Action Alerts

Thursday, January 16 at 6PM
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/O2nqudYtTz-0L4EJKTpoDA

This global event, held simultaneously in cities across the world, seeks justice, accountability, and systemic reform in response to the ongoing failures of law enforcement and the lack of accountability for police misconduct.

Ohio’s virtual press conference will feature powerful testimonies from Ohio families who have had a loved one killed by police as they demand action to end police violence and prioritize transformative change. Speakers will include Chana Wiley, sister of Jaron Thomas; Dytania Hudson, mother of Deaunte L Bell and Johnny L Bell; and Rebecca Duran, mother of Donovan Lewis. This is a call for urgent reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, justice, and human dignity in all communities.

Key Demands:

As President Biden said on Monday in relation to another matter, "Never ever ever give up." As you know, our primary demand has always been that the President clear all death sentences under his authority.

WEDNESDAY at 9pm ET

"Final Call to Action: Biden #FinishTheJob!"

Click Here to Register

Invasion of the “Hyperscalers” – or large-scale data centers – into Central Ohio is full-speed ahead with no end in sight. And there’s a looming question that many are not paying attention to, but should: Who is going to foot the bill for the extra American Electric Power (AEP) infrastructure and electricity needed by Amazon, Google, and Meta, to satisfy their hunger?

“The bottom line from a consumer protection perspective is, these data centers are the largest, richest, most powerful companies in the world, and they are going to consume a very large amount of electricity. And the consumer protection issue is, who is going to pay for all the infrastructure necessary to serve those big data centers and who will bear the risk in the event if something goes wrong?” Bill Michael told the Free Press, senior counsel with the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

Tuesday, January 14, 4-5pm, this on-line event requires advance registration

This past November, world leaders gathered at the United Nations annual climate talks (COP29) with the main goal of securing an ambitious climate finance agreement, alongside reaffirming that nations will take meaningful steps to cut emissions and transition away from fossil fuels as was agreed upon last year.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) invites you to join a virtual discussion to learn more about our efforts to highlight scientifically necessary outcomes at COP29, how we engaged on the ground during these contentious international climate negotiations and called out the malign influence of fossil fuel interests, and where we go from here — including the impact of the incoming Trump administration which has threatened to exit the Paris Agreement.

Monday, January 13, 2025, 6:00 PM
Columbus Public Library, Main Branch, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215, meeting room A
As Trump takes office on January 20th, Martin Luther King Jr Day, the mass movement is reigniting to say NO to the billionaire agenda! A mass protest in defense of immigrant families, in support of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, against the war machine and for people’s needs, and more, will be held at the Ohio Statehouse at 12PM.

Sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, PSL Columbus, JVP Central Ohio, Columbus DSA, the Gateway Film Center union, Black Men Build Columbus, and more, this action aims to fight for our people’s rights on Day 1 of this new presidency.  

In preparation for this action, weekly organizing meetings are being held and are open to all. Now is the time to get organized and join the working-class fight-back movement!  

The military detention facility at Guantánamo Bay is a horrific symbol of torture, indefinite detention, and injustice under the leadership of the United States.

It holds 15 Muslim men, many who have never faced charges or a trial. Hundreds of men and boys have been detained, tortured, and denied their rights at Guantánamo over the last 22+ years. All of these actions are human rights violations under international law.

Time and time again, President Biden said he was committed to protecting and upholding human rights — and these next two weeks are his final opportunity to make good on those promises.

Join us today to call on Biden to close Guantánamo, fairly resolve cases, and ensure the transfer of all cleared detainees to countries where their human rights will be respected.

We're SO close... we just to keep up the pressure and continue to urge him to take further action before January 20th.

Saturday, January 11 from 7-8pm
On Zoom to discuss:
Organizing for the challenges of 2025
From despair to active resistance! - Housing First!

Speakers on local social justice issues including housing.
Kate Curry-Da-Souza, former longtime Near East Area Commissioner and Columbus City Council District #7 candidate
and
Ben Colburn, working with Maryhaven and active with encampments
More TBA.

Co-sponsored by Simply Living

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88981714025?pwd=ON50ZHvqYpQ1WckVxFbgSmQELOWqa…

Meeting ID: 889 8171 4025
Passcode: 006908

For info: colsfreepress@gmail.com

In the final hours of last year’s legislative session, Ohio’s legislature passed HB 8—a dangerous bill modeled after Florida’s harmful “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law. This legislation forces schools to notify parents or caregivers if a student requests to use a different name or pronouns, even when that disclosure could put the student at risk of harm.

HB 8 endangers the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio. Transgender and nonbinary students deserve to trust their educators without fear of being outed to unsupportive families, and educators deserve a workplace where they do not have to fear retribution for supporting a student.

Governor DeWine has the power to halt this harmful legislation, but he needs to hear from you. Call or email Governor DeWine now and demand he veto HB 8. Regardless of the outcome, your message in support of our precious youth will resound loud and clear.

Every call and every email counts in the fight to protect Ohio’s children. Through our collective action, our children will see what side of history we are on, and right now, that could save a life. Together, we can send a strong message that discrimination has no place in our state.

Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6pm 
A presentation and discussion on unions and the state of the labor movement in Ohio.
Join us in person at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (30 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210) or online at tinyurl.com/CORSmeeting.

Tuesday, January 7th at 6:00pm
Buckeye Environmental Network will be holding an informational webinar for the community and media to learn more about the ARCH2 project and its implications. Presenters include: eastern Ohio-based environmental scientist and retired chemistry teacher Dr. Randi Pokladnik, who will be presenting the health and environmental impacts, and Sean O’Leary, a researcher with the Ohio River Valley Institute, who will discuss the economic impacts of hydrogen and how the region has already suffered economically from fracking.
Register for the webinar at the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vduyqrzsrHt0C6ZX8B9f5CQDFQBv605Ya#/registration