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TO OPPOSE ANTI-PROTEST BILL, OHIO FREE SPEECH COALITION PLANS SILENT PROTEST AT STATEHOUSE

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT

Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org, (540) 280-3393

Dan Clark, dclark@faithinpubliclife.org, (614) 648-3663

TO OPPOSE ANTI-PROTEST BILL, OHIO FREE SPEECH COALITION PLANS SILENT PROTEST AT STATEHOUSE 

WED 10 AM: Two dozen orgs, faith leaders, community advocates to wear masks with red tape during the House Criminal Justice Committee meeting, protesting anti-protest bills as bad for Ohio democracy

Columbus, OH — On Wednesday, November 10th at 10:00 a.m., a coalition of nearly two dozen organizations (listed below) will gather for a silent protest during the House Criminal Justice Committee hearing. Since Committee members are not hearing testimony regarding HB109, faith leaders will show by their silent presence that they oppose immoral legislation that would severely criminalize and silence protest and dissent. Faith leaders and community advocates believe that a healthy democracy makes room for protest.

Leaders from Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio and other organizations are submitting written testimony.

Rev. Joan VanBecelaere, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio: “HB109, if passed, will certainly have a chilling effect on peaceful protest. It threatens organizations with unwarranted liability, outlandish penalties, legal uncertainty, and the loss of constitutional protections. It is rooted in the history of the suppression of civil rights and increases punishments inequitably. There will be numerous expensive court challenges to this. It has no place in a democracy. I call on House Criminal Justice Committee members to support the promise made in our Constitution. Do not silence our voices or take away our first amendment rights. Do not expand and perpetuate racism in the system. I ask all members of the House Criminal Justice Committee to vote against HB109.”

Pastor Hank Osmundson, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio: “Any legislation that causes people to question whether they should exercise their rights to assembly and free speech is not in the interest of “law and order” but rather in violation of the fundamental freedoms that make this country great. Our democracy works best when voices are heard. All voices.”

For media registration, click here.

To watch the event live on the Ohio Channel’s House Criminal Justice Committee page, click here. 

WHAT:

Silent protest led by faith leaders and community advocates

VISUALS:

Leaders in clergy attire wearing masks with red tape

WHEN:

Wednesday, November 10th at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Ohio Statehouse

1 Capitol Square

Columbus, OH 43215

House Criminal Justice Committee Hearing room 313; Overflow room 311

WHO:

Pastor Hank Osmundson, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio

Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio

Rev. Dan Clark, Faith in Public Life

CO-SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS:

Buckeye Environmental Network

Death Penalty Action

Faith in Public Life

The InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF)

Miami Valley Unitarian Universalists Fellowship

Ohio Council of Churches

Ohio Poor People’s Campaign

Ohio Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice

Organize Ohio

Our Revolution Central Ohio

Our Revolution Ohio

Serve The People – Cleveland

Showing Up for Racial Justice – Northeast Ohio (SURJ – NEO)

Sierra Club – Central Ohio Group

Simply Living

Stop Ohio Anti-Protest Bills

Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio

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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, we are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level. Our network of 50,000 leaders engage in bold moral action that affirms our values and the human dignity of all.

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