A stark but unsurprising contrast in the philosophy of governance and civil rights enforcement is emerging between the proposals of Project 2025 and the grassroots efforts of the Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity.

While Project 2025 seeks to curtail federal oversight and reshape the civil service, the Ohio initiative, much like the historic 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act, aims to intensify and reinforce the accountability of government officials who’ve committed civil rights violations. The Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights citizen-led ballot amendment initiative was cleared for signature gathering earlier this year. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental check on government power by allowing Ohioans to hold public officials and entities accountable in civil court.

Released American hostage Tom Hayes received a hero's welcome at John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio yesterday Sunday October 12, 2025. 

He was among the nearly 500 Sumud Flotilla crew who were taken hostage by the Israeli pirates on October 3 in internarial water about 100 miles away from Gaza shores. 

All Global Sumud 46 vessels were intercepted by Israel as it was sailing to break the siege in Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged and starving people in the Strip. They carried food, water, baby formula, and toys for kids.

Several dozen people from Central Ohio and some from Athens in Ohio came to Columbus airport to give Tom Hayes the welcome he deserves: A hero's welcome! After all, he risked his life for the people of Gaza and for justice. 

When Hayes saw the well-wishers with signs and balloons, he screamed from the top of his lungs repeatedly "Free, Free Palestine!" One of the well-wishers gave him a plant of olive trees, which is more than just a tree in Palestine but rather a symbol of resilience, rootedness, and deep connection of the Palestinian people to their land.

Are American's seeing the images of ICE attacking people? It would seem that the entire population would revolt. There are a brave few protesting but not enough to change the behavior. Unless enough American's take to the streets or revolt in other ways, we will see this government to continue to commit crimes against innocent American citizens, for at least 3 more years.  In a Democracy, public opinion alone would be enough to stop this.  

Here are just a few links of ICE running wild in America.  I urge everyone to have access to TwitterX/ TicTok and/or Bluesky.  This is just a small sample of the horrors being inflicted.

Illinois State Police confronted a group of aggressive anti-ICE protesters,

WATCH: Law enforcement officers clash with anti-ICE demonstrators 

He dropped his sons off at school and never made it home.

If we are to speak of a Palestinian victory in Gaza, it is a resounding triumph for the Palestinian people, their indomitable spirit, and their deeply rooted resistance that transcends faction, ideology, and politics.

For decades, the prevailing notion was that the 'solution' to the Israeli occupation of Palestine lay in a strictly negotiated process. “Only dialogue can achieve peace” has been the relentlessly peddled mantra in political circles, academic platforms, media forums, and the like.

A colossal industry burgeoned around that idea, expanding dramatically in the lead-up to, and for years after, the signing of the Oslo Accords between Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Israeli government.

The Unmaking of 'Peace'

From Indivisible Central Ohio
Last week, Jordan McLaughlin gave a fascinating presentation to ICO members about private equity and the housing crisis in Columbus that shows how the purchase of property by private equity in our community is driving up prices and making home ownership unattainable for many in our community. Jordan has written an ordinance that he would like the City Council to consider.

Call Shannon Hardin at 614-645-6354 and urge him to introduce the ordinance!