People For the American Way- Ohio

11/14/2012

Right-wing extremists at the Statehouse are pushing an Arizona-like bill. The bill will have a sponsor hearing tomorrow, Wednesday Nov 14th at 4:00 PM in the House Transportation, Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee.

Please read this press release from OHIO Action Circle, a network of organizations and individuals advocating for Immigrant Rights and Latino empowerment in the State of Ohio.

For Immediate Release

Immigrant and Human Rights Advocates Denounce Anti-Immigrant Arizona-like Ohio HB 580

Columbus, Ohio - Ohio Immigrant rights organizations, human rights advocates, faith leaders, students and undocumented community members stand together to denounce House Bill 580, the Arizona-like bill sponsored by Rep. Combs. The bill will have a sponsor hearing Wednesday Nov 14th at 4:00 PM. The bill is before the House Transportation, Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee.

“I can’t believe this is happening in Ohio. This is not where the national sentiment is as far as immigrant rights and the move toward immigration reform, something is very wrong here”, stated Maritza Motino from LULAC Ohio.

The bill's primary focus is the right for police officers to use “reasonable suspicion that an individual is an alien” and brings the same civil rights concerns to Ohio which has played out as racial profiling in states like Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and others.

“This is old story thinking from old story minds such as that of Representative Courtney Combs,” stated community organizer and immigrant rights advocate, Ruben Castilla Herrera, “Frankly, as far as I’m concerned it’s the reintroduction of a bill based on ignorance, xenophobia and fear of the other," he continued.

In the wake of the 2012 elections, which saw record levels of turnout among Latino voters, representatives of the Ohio Action Circle feel that Ohio's elected officials should be working to find common ground for a real solution to the broken immigration system.

"It's encouraging that Republicans and Democrats alike are now discussing the importance of passing legislation that provides opportunities for immigrants, whether it's Congress working on a path to citizenship or Senate Bill 357 here in Ohio, which would provide equal access to education for undocumented children," said Nick Torres of DREAMActivist Ohio. "Unfortunately, Representative Combs has long advocated for these sorts of punitive, divisive bills which move our state backwards," he added.

The Ohio Action Circle remains committed to working with advocates across the State to push for policies that benefit Latinos and the immigrant communities throughout Ohio while speaking out against anti-immigrant legislation.

Participating Organizations:
DREAMActivist OHIO
League of United American Citizens (LULAC) Ohio
Central Ohio Immigrant Justice
Ohio Action Circle
Ohio Fair Food
Interfaith Immigration Coalition

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11/14/2012

Another win for the voters.

In a scathing 17-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley said a directive on counting provisional ballots that Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted issued on Nov. 2 was "a flagrant violation of a state elections law" that could disenfranchise voters.

11/14/2012

Now that President Obama has been re-elected, the Supreme Court has the potential to shift from a Conservative majority, if one or more justice(s) resign. Four are between ages 74-79.

* Balance may be preserved or shift to the left * Oldest justices are 79, 76, 76 and 74 By Joan Biskupic WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's election victory on Tuesday may give him the opportunity to deepen his liberal imprint on the...

11/06/2012

Do it! Help re-elect President Barack Obama.

11/06/2012

The Tea-Party group True the Vote will not be allowed to harass Franklin County voters today. A win for democracy and voting rights! No one will be intimidated out of their vote by these folks today.

A Houston-based group that wanted to monitor 30 Franklin County polling places for potential voter fraud was thwarted yesterday by the county elections board.

11/06/2012

Make sure you vote for President Obama today if you want tot avoid a Romney Court. We can't afford to jeopardize the Supreme Court for future generations by electing an extremist like Mitt Romney.

Failed Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork is Now bringing his extreme right-wing views to Mitt Romney’s Campaign. We can’t let Mitt Romney and Robert Bork shape our Supreme Court. It’s just too dangerous.

11/06/2012

Need to find out where to vote today? Use this tool, or call your county board of elections!

Depending on what type of election is being held (special, primary, general) your polling location may or may not be open on a particular Election Day. To determine if and/or when a particular polling location will be open, please contact your county b...

11/05/2012

A scary, but very real possibility, should Romney win the presidency. Mitt has said countless times that Scalia is his model Justice, and with 1-2 seats on the court potentially opening up in the next four-year term, it's possible that the court would overturn Roe. Vote for President Obama if you don't want to see your rights taken away.

Mitt Romney has made it clear that he'd be "delighted" to appoint a Supreme Court justice who would overturn Roe v. Wade – and he'll likely have the chance, if elected. Let's make sure that day doesn't come.

Please share this with your friends and family. Women have fought for their rights and freedoms for way too long to turn back now!

11/05/2012

Check out these pictures of folks voting early throughout the state today! Make sure you vote, whether it's tomorrow or election day.

Today's story is the incredibly long lines to vote across Ohio. Unlike in 2008, early voting was limited to weekdays by Secretary of State Jon Husted. But thanks to a lawsuit by the Obama campaign, two weekend days were restored -- yesterday and today -- and the lines clearly demonstrate that Ohioan...

11/02/2012

Remember: voting is your RIGHT as an American, not a privilege. Don't let bullies like Jon Husted and True the Vote discourage or stop you from voting!

The Rev. Nelson Pierce works with the AMOS Project, a federation of congregations in Greater Cincinnati. Judith Browne Dianis is co-director of Advancement Project, a civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.

11/01/2012

Mayor Bloomberg cites Supreme Court appointments as a reason to support President Barack Obama. We couldn't agree more. Read his endorsement of the President here:

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11/01/2012

Jon Husted's voter suppression efforts continue to be denied by courts, yet he won't give up on trying to stop you from voting. He's now trying to fight a federal judge's ruling that provisional ballots cast in the wrong location must be counted.

Ohio's top elections official wants a court to suspend a federal ruling expanding the conditions under which provisional ballots are counted in the battleground state.