Indivisible OH12 knows Black Lives Matter

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Black lives matter. We stand in solidarity with those who are speaking up for racial justice. Please take a moment to join and/or support local protesters. Where to join? There are protests popping up all over the district -- in Clintonville, Westerville, Worthington, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Mansfield, Zanesville, and many more. If you can't find a protest, go to a busy intersection with a sign!

You can find anti-racist resources and national calls to action on Indivisible's website. Additionally, here are some ideas of ways to be supportive here in Ohio.

1. Donate to the Columbus Freedom Fund to help bail out protesters who have been arrested.
Paypal: paypal.me/ColumbusFreedomFund
CashApp: $ColumbusFreedomFund

2. Call to ask that CPD release arrested protesters and drop their charges:
Mayor (614) 645-7671 and City Attorney (614) 645-7385
(email only if the voicemail is full at 311@columbus.gov and zmklein@columbus.gov)

3. Reach out to City Council members to support calls for independent investigations into police use of force, including a real Civilian Review Commission in the next police contract.

Shannon G. Hardin, Council President: (614) 645-5291 and (614) 645-2726
Elizabeth Brown, Council Pres. Pro Tempore: (614) 645-7163 or (614) 724-4649
Mitchell J. Brown: (614) 724-4686 or (614) 645-4605
Rob Dorans: (614) 645-5829 or (614) 645-5568
Shayla Favor: (614) 645-5524 or (614) 645-3680
Emmanuel V. Remy: (614) 645-3559 or (614)-724-4432
Priscilla R. Tyson: (614) 645-2932 or (614) 645-0854

Stand Firm against Stand Your Ground and Permitless Carry
As Ohioans march for black lives outside the Statehouse, Ohio's Republican supermajority is pushing 2 bills that have been PROVEN to increase murder rates.

HB 381 - "Stand Your Ground" (AKA Kill at Will). StandYourGround laws in Florida & Georgia made it difficult to charge Trayvon Martin & Ahmaud Arbery's killers. Ohioans already have a right to self defense. This bill removes the obligation to NOT use deadly force when someone seems threatening in a public space if you can avoid it.
HB 178 - Untrained Carry (AKA Permitless Carry). This would allow Ohioans to carry firearms without a permit or any training. What could go wrong?

CALL the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee members:
Committee Chair - Rep George Lang (R): 614-466-8550
Vice Chair - Rep Phil Plummer (R): 614-644-8051
Ranking Democrat - Rep Dave Leland (D): 614-466-2473
[Extra points for calling additional committee members: Rep Jim Butler (R): 614-644-6008; Rep Jeff Crossman (D): 614-466-3485; Rep Bob Cupp (R): 614-466-9624; Rep Tavia Galonski (D): 614-644-6037; Rep Diane Grendell (R): 614-644-5088; Rep John Rogers (D): 614-466-7251; Rep Bill Seitz (R): (614) 466-8258; Rep Todd Smith (R): 614-466-2960; Rep Thomas West (D): 614-466-8030]

Tell them it is shameful to even consider supporting bills known to increase murder rates, ESPECIALLY while Ohioans march for black lives outside.
Tell them to OPPOSE HB 178 and HB 381.

Are you eager to be registering voters? So are we! The OH12 VR Team is meeting Thursday night to plan our next steps. Check the information in the event listing below, and join us by zoom. Meanwhile, some people are out doing voter registration at BLM protests across the city. If you need voter registration supplies or training, or have completed VR forms that need to be recorded and turned in, we can help! Email us at mialoh12@gmail.com to make arrangements. You can also write "subscribe" to that address to sign up for VR team emails.

Tell Ohio Lawmakers: Make Ohio Elections BETTER, not worse
Many thanks to all the OH12 members who have called and emailed to speak up for better elections in Ohio. Senate Bill 191 would allow online applications for absentee ballots. How sensible! Other needed reforms include allowing more than one early vote center and drop off box per county, and fully funding pre-paid postage on applications and ballots. Sadly, House Bill 680 would make voting HARDER and more complicated. We need to STOP HB680 while at the same time pushing for good reforms such as the ones in SB191.

Read more and take action here:
- Send an email
- Make (and log) a call

Upcoming Events

Note: Most of the events below are still virtual, but some are outdoors with requests for social distancing.

Daily: A "Cacerolazo" for George Floyd: A Pots and Pans Protest Against Racial Oppression and For Social Justice, 10pm -- or whatever time works for you. What? A "cacerolazo" (kah-say-roh-LAH-zoh, from the Spanish word for "casserole") is an informal protest in which neighbors gather from their homes and bang on pots and pans (hence the name). You can also chant slogans as appropriate ("Black Lives Matter!" "No Justice, No Peace! No Racist Police!"). How? First, TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHY. Then, at 10PM (or whenever the curfew begins, or *whenever works for you*), grab some pots and pans, a wooden ladle, and start banging! If you do it for long enough (and often, it takes more than a couple of nights), soon the neighbors will join in as well. Where? On your front porch, from your windows, or from wherever else is convenient and safe. When? At the beginning of the curfew (if you have one) for as long as necessary. You can start earlier too if you prefer! We suggest going for at least 8 minutes, the length of time that George Floyd was pinned under the cop's knee.

Thursday, 6/4: Thursday Action Group Zoom Meeting, 12-1pm. Join the meeting by Zoom at this link.

Thursday, 6/4: Virtual Listening Circle - For People Protesting Against Racism, 2-3:30pm. "Please join us via Zoom for a virtual listening circle for those that are protesting against racism in our Communities. We want to support you in caring for yourself while engaging in protesting systemic racism." Zoom link will be posted in the event, I hope!

Thursday, 6/4: OH12 VR Team Meeting, 8:30-9:30pm. Join us to plan, strategize, and take action. Register at this link to join the Zoom call, and check out the notes from the previous meeting here.

Friday, 6/5: Black Lives Matter Family Friendly Protest, 4pm, North Broadway & High St, Columbus. "George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police on May 25, 2020. While being suffocated by an officer during a deadly arrest, he gasped out for his “mama”. George Floyd is one of many Americans who lost their lives to police violence in our country and in our city. As mothers, we can only imagine the excruciating pain of loosing a child to police violence. On behalf of parents who lost their children and those children, we mourn with you and we gather in protest against the violent and racist police system that lead to their deaths. Show your support at a peaceful children-friendly protest, brings signs for support of BLACK LIVES MATTER, wear a mask, bring drinking water, maintain social distance."

Saturday, 6/6: OutVote Training, 11am. Register here. You can help multiply the number of calls and letters going to our Ohio reps about election reform by joining the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition texting campaign. Using OutVote, you can text from a list of Ohio voters, or send messages to your own contacts. Check out this letter with information about the program and sign up for an OutVote training.

Sunday, 6/7: 2020 Annual Meeting: Vote Ohio BLUE, 2-5pm. Hosted by Indivisible OH15. "Everything you expect from your annual meeting: good ideas, great conversation, and breakout sessions! Save the date and look for a complete schedule SOON! Look forward to candidate updates and information from them on how YOU can get involved to Vote Ohio Blue. Sign up for the 2020 fight at this link. Let's support our central Ohio state and federal candidates with a committed band of volunteers and activists ready to march in parades, host fundraisers, make calls, canvass....

Monday, 6/8: Indivisible OH12 Monthly Leadership Meeting, 7-8:30pm. Join OH12 members as we discuss how to be most impactful in our work against the Trump agenda. All are welcome! Register for the zoom meeting at this link.

Wednesday, 6/10: OH12 Virtual Postcard Party, 6-7:30pm. Join us as we all write postcards for our favorite cause or candidate. This week we will focus on Crystal Lett. She's running for State Senate District 16, which includes the western part of Franklin County and Worthington, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Hilliard and Grove City. While Crystal has been involved in a variety of activist organizations throughout her life, one theme is clear: she fights for those who need a champion. From kids dealing with mental illness to families in need of medical benefits, Crystal knows that strong families build a stronger community. You can collect postcards for Crystal at Mia's house starting Thursday, 6/4, and in other locations around the district after that.
Email IndivisibleOH12@gmail.com for more info. Register for the Zoom meeting at this link.

Thanks for all you do!

Mia, Sara, and the OH12 Team

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