After Mayor Ginther Thwarts Investigation, Columbus Faith Leaders Deliver Petition to DOJ Civil Rights Division
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Thursday, September 16, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT
Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org, 540-280-3393
Rev. Dan Clark, dclark@faithinpubliclife.org, 614-648-3663
After Mayor Ginther Thwarts Investigation, Columbus Faith Leaders Deliver Petition to DOJ Civil Rights Division
Virtual Press Conference before faith leaders deliver petition to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in response to Mayor Ginther avoiding transformative investigation
Columbus, OH – On Thursday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m. ET, Columbus faith leaders will join together virtually before delivering a petition to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. The Columbus Police Department has made national news several times in the last few months for use of deadly force, including the police killings of Casey Goodson Jr., Andre Hill, Miles Jackson and Ma’Khia Bryant. In response, faith leaders will deliver a petition signed by more than 100 faith leaders calling for a Pattern-or-Practice Investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. This is not the first time that the Columbus community has asked the DOJ for an investigation. Columbus faith leaders are not interested in a review from the DOJ, which is similar to the repeated and costly consultant reports that Mayor Ginther continues to fund, with no real change. Earlier this year, Columbus Police Accountability Project made the same request.
During the virtual presser, a video will be played of Ms. Adrienne Hood, the mother of Henry Green who was murdered by two Columbus police officers in 2016, reading the petition in front of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
People of faith are not willing to allow Mayor Ginther to continue to deceive the community by avoiding their request for a Pattern-or-Practice investigation.
WHAT:
Faith Leaders will deliver a petition signed by 107 people, to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, calling for a Pattern-or-Practice Investigation of the Columbus Division of Police.
WHEN:
Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET
WHERE:
WHO:
- Bishop Donald Washington, Mount Hermon Missionary Baptist Church
- Ms. Adrienne Hood, Ohio Families United Against Police Brutality
- Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens, First Congregational Church
- Rev. Dr. Jefferey P. Kee, New Faith Baptist Church of Christ
- Rev. Dr. Susan Smith, Crazy Faith Ministries
- Paisha Thomas, Faith in Public Life
- More speakers to be announced
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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.