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After several years of rejecting the Ohio Coalition To End Qualified Immunity’s (OCTEQI) petition summary, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office on Nov. 25 finally officially accepted their summary of its proposed constitutional amendment seeking to end qualified immunity for peace officers and possibly other government officials in Ohio.

The OCTEQI believes, as other activists do, that the only way to curb police brutality is to change policy. Qualified immunity shields law enforcement and other state actors from personal liability (civil suits).

A November 8 ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court prompted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to re-evaluate the summary and its title, “Protecting Ohioans Constitutional Rights.” His office had rejected the proposed constitutional amendment nearly ten times before, but the OCTEQI time and time again was unrelenting in its effort to gather the roughly 1,000 signatures for the AG to approve the next step.

On Saturday, November 16, a small group of neo-Nazis marched through the Short North, near downtown Columbus, Ohio. 

The group chanted vile expressions of racism and white supremacy, including the phrase “Bow down, [N-word]!” according to Rev. Derrick Holmes, senior pastor at Columbus’ Union Grove Baptist Church, speaking on behalf of members of his congregation who witnessed the vulgar display firsthand. The cowardly neo-Nazis spouted this hateful rhetoric while carrying black flags with red swastikas and spinelessly hiding distinguishing features behind black concealing outfits and red masks.

The coalition of voting and civil rights organizations behind the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights releases the following statement in response to the Ohio Ballot Board rightfully certifying its proposed ballot measure as a single amendment:

“We are grateful that the Ohio Ballot Board made the correct decision today to keep our proposed Ohio Voters Bill of Rights amendment intact. This ruling affirms our position that the amendment relates to a single purpose: voting rights for eligible Ohioans. 

The decision marks another crucial milestone in our journey to put these popular and necessary pro-voter policies before the people of Ohio. 

The Ohio Voters Bill of Rights is fundamentally about restoring and protecting the people's power. We remain unwavering in our commitment to enshrining voting rights into our state constitution, ensuring that every eligible Ohioan has the opportunity to make their voice heard at the ballot box. And the positive outcome from the Ballot Board brings us one step closer to placing this vital issue on the ballot. 

After the recent news that federal grants reached a new milestone for supporting solar in communities across the country, with $1 billion in grants allocated through the rural energy program alone,

We begin the GREEP zoom #200 with JEN KARIUS, who worked the polls in Pennsylvania & asks for others to contact her.

Then the great JOHN BRAKEY checks in from Arizona with his deep understanding of what a fair election really looks like.

MYLA RESON introduces DAVID FELDMAN of “the Mop Up,” and tells us that letters are going to Kamala Harris, asking her to investigate the election outcome.

Myla reads the “Duty to Warn” letter from computer expert Steven Spoonamore sent to the Democrats.

From Asheville, North Carolina, ILENE PROCTOR reports on an election outcome that gave down ballot Democrats a victory along with Trump.

Legendary “Flashpoints” host DENNIS BERNSTEIN warns of federal legislation designed to attack progressive non-profits.

BRENDA DAVIES gratefully informs us about HR815, set to destroy activist groups nationwide.

KPFK’s erstwhile Chair TATANKA BRICCA warns of explosions set to go off possibly this summer.

We then hear from MARGOT KING that HR 815 has been (temporarily) defeated.

RUTH STRAUSS says she un-scribed from the Washington Post but thinks folks should join back up.

It was one year ago today that Environmental Court Judge Stephanie Mingo declared that “City of Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is the source of the ex parte communication” in the case of the Greyhound bus station on Columbus’ west side. Judge Mingo should have revealed the Mayor’s name during the Emergency Status Conference that was held on October 12, 2023, 26 days before the mayoral election. Judge Mingo was well aware of the implications of announcing Andy Ginther’s name as the ex parte communicator just 26 days prior to Election Day.  She had a duty to tell the public who it was and what was said and her silence brings into question judicial partiality of a high-ranking city official. This was a clear abuse of power and the mayor made the phone call to get an advantage in the election. The mayor tried to obstruct official business of the court.

The presence of white supremacist groups, such as neo-Nazis marching in public spaces like the Short North will provoke strong reactions from various communities including African Americans and Jewish people, among others.

While some of our white allies may suggest to simply ignore attention-starved masked Nazis marching in our communities and dismiss them as “clowns,” this is easier said than done for African Americans and Jewish people. These events are viewed as deeply disturbing and threatening due to the symbols of hate and the ideologies these groups represent.

For African Americans: Fear, Anger and Historical Trauma

They may feel fear and anger, as these groups often promote ideologies that are explicitly racist and aim to intimidate minority communities. This can also trigger historical memories of racial violence (lynchings) and be a stark reminder of ongoing racial tensions and systemic racism.

For Jewish People: Distress, Alarm and Historical Trauma

This article first appeared in the Buckeye Flame.

The Ohio Senate passed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting transgender students – kindergarten through college, at both private and public schools – from using multi-person restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The vote on SB 104, which in a particularly dark turn occurred during Transgender Awareness Week, passed 24-7 along party lines and now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

The trans bathroom ban originated as HB 183, which its Republican sponsors named the “Protect All Students Act.” But on June 26, Ohio House Republicans tacked HB 183 onto SB 104 at the very end of a nearly 12-hour session. By amending a bill that originated in the Senate and had already been approved by that body, House Republicans circumvented the normal legislative process, in which HB 183 would have to be heard through Senate committee hearings. 

This article first appeared in the Buckeye Flame.

The Ohio Senate passed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting transgender students – kindergarten through college, at both private and public schools – from using multi-person restrooms and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The vote on SB 104, which in a particularly dark turn occurred during Transgender Awareness Week, passed 24-7 along party lines and now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

The trans bathroom ban originated as HB 183, which its Republican sponsors named the “Protect All Students Act.” But on June 26, Ohio House Republicans tacked HB 183 onto SB 104 at the very end of a nearly 12-hour session. By amending a bill that originated in the Senate and had already been approved by that body, House Republicans circumvented the normal legislative process, in which HB 183 would have to be heard through Senate committee hearings. 

This is a democracy, folks. There are no kings that rule the United States of America. And we need to keep it that way.

Have you heard of the No Kings Act? 

If this law were to pass, here are three reasons why this bill would be an important guardrail for our democracy:

1) Trump would be held accountable for his many crimes – including the 34 felony convictions on his record.

2) The Supreme Court, controlled by a 6-3 conservative majority, would stop any corruption that they’ve been a part of!

3) Trump would not be in office EVER AGAIN.

President Biden, Senator Schumer, and Senate Democrats are working around the clock to pass this law before Trump is inaugurated.

But we need EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT who reads this to endorse this bill before midnight >>

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