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Dayton Police Splurge On KKK Protection

Guys waving flags and with Ku Klux Klan signs

Dayton police protected nine KKK members with hundreds of police yesterday at a two hour Honorable Sacred Knight of the Klu Klux Klan’s Members and Supporters Only Rally in a show of police force not common in Dayton. Across downtown Dayton about 3,000 peace and equality loving protesters sang songs, led chants, and gave speeches, with several hundred across the street from Courthouse Square, several hundred at the launch of Black Lives Matter Dayton at RiverScape MetroPark, and several hundred more celebrated An Afternoon Of Love, Unity, Peace and Inclusion in McIntosh Park.

“Dayton turned out,” said Dayton resident Miracle Woods who attended the counter protests. “We didn’t do any negative sh*t, we came in love and peace and we left in love and peace,” she said. Woods, who was not with a particular group but identified as being with “the anti-KKK unity,” was critical of how the city handled the KKK permit. She said “the mayor needs her ass whooped” for allowing the KKK permit to be rushed through.

Oppose HB 6

Top of nuclear plant with lots of white smoke coming out

From the Sierra Club Beyond Coal:  Nearly 300 of you have made calls, and more than 1,400 messages have been sent to Ohio State Representatives to oppose the nuclear bailout bill (HB 6) but the bill is still alive!  We need to keep the momentum going. Call your state representatives to oppose the nuclear bailout bill. Here's the message: The nuclear bailout bill-HB6 is moving in the OH Statehouse. If it's not stopped, we'll pay hundreds of millions a year for these uneconomic plants! Call your state rep. at 1-512-562-9139 to stop the nuclear bailout bill! #NoOnHB6 #NoNukeBailoutTax #OhiosEnergyFuture.  

Despite protest and opposition testimony, HB 6 Passes

Nuke plant on the water with smoke

The future of energy generation in Ohio hangs in the balance with House Bill 6(HB6) and May 22 and 23 saw some pivotal events in the saga of this bill. Protests and hearings laid out two very different paths Ohio could go down, one filled with nuclear contamination and countless tons of waste, the other with clean energy from wind and solar. The proposed law would add a charge to every Ohioan's electric bill in order to bail out the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants. These crumbling, leaking plants can no longer compete in terms of price with wind, solar, or gas generation. Initially, the bill tried to pass itself off as a pro-environmental bill. The official title states that it  was intended "to create the Ohio Clean Air Program, to facilitate and encourage electricity production and use from clean air resources..." and never actually mentioned nuclear power. However, it quickly became clear that restrictions on how generation sources could access money from the charges meant that most of the money would go to First Energy to bail out their failing nuclear plants. Wind farms and solar fields would not be eligible.

Quick Guide to Dayton KKK Rally Counter Events 25 May

Klu Klux Klan (KKK) affiliated group Honorable Sacred Knights (HSK) will be occupying Dayton’s Courthouse Square with messages of hate and intolerance Saturday 25 May.

Here is a quick guide for those who will be going into Dayton to counter their messages of hate. For some background see previous Columbus Free Press reporting.

The city of Dayton is hosting a useful event page, which includes links to an events page, and road closure page, even though the Dayton Mayor has advised the public to stay at home. Thousands of people are expected to show up to make a stand against a return to public lynchings and slavery.

Global Climate Strike Pre-strike Sign Making Event

Lots of people outside from a view above all holding signs like There is no planet B and It's time to Act

Thursday, May 23, 4-6:30pm
Upper Arlington Public Library, 1945 Lane. Rd.
Meet in room A (at the end of the front hallway to the right of entrance). Acrylic paint & brushes, markers, and cardboard will be provided (until gone). Feel free to bring your own materials.
We are the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the US Climate Strike. There are several strikes occurring on March 24th across the state. In Columbus it is at the Ohio Statehouse from 12-2:30pm. See Fridays For Future website to find yours: https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/events/map

Fight the Nuke Bailout in Ohio-Rally at the Statehouse

Nuke reactor spewing smoke

Wednesday, May 22, 8am
Ohio Statehouse, Broad and High Streets, Columbus
We just learned that HB6 proponents have organized a rally at 8am tomorrow at the Ohio Statehouse before the 9am hearing on the bill. The union workers at Ohio’s two nuke plants are taking the lead in organizing a pro-HB6 rally. This bill would add charges to every Ohioan’s electric bill to give First Energy an unlimited bailout for its leaking, crumbling nuclear power plants. It’s a bad deal for Ohio and a disaster for the environment. We have to step up for Ohio and hold a counter rally!!!On such short notice we may not be able to get a big turnout, but it's important we show that there's opposition. If you're coming for the hearing and are able to arrive early, please meet us at of the corner 3rd and State at 8am and bring a sign if you can! Please spread the word to people you know who may be able to join us! 

The Recent Abortion Bans: What You Need to Know

Two older women at a rally holding a sign saying Trust Women

Although the attack on reproductive rights has vamped up in previous months, the last week has been especially exhausting, with some of the most restrictive abortion bans being considered and passed since Roe V. Wade, the landmark United States Supreme Court decision which guaranteed access to abortion as a constitutional right.

Here is a list of recent legislation passed or being considered around various parts of the country:

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