ICO Newsletter - 4/23/25
Let Your Representatives Know: We're Watching!
It’s congressional recess, a perfect time to demand action from our US Representatives. Check these events targeting Mike Carey (District 15) and Troy Balderson (District 12).
Saturday, 4/26/2025: Stop the Cuts: Chasing Down Carey, 12-1pm. The Cap City Marathon runs through Schiller Park on Saturday, directly across the street from Congressman Mike Carey’s house. Carey is running away from his constituents even faster than the marathoners are running for the finish line. He is supporting budget cuts that will destroy thousands of Ohio jobs and devastate government services like social security, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits. We’ll gather to demand that Carey Stop the Cuts. Bring your signs and your voices. Let’s show Mike Carey we won’t be silenced. He can run, but we aren’t going away. Meet at the entrance to Schiller Park on City Park Avenue. Register HERE.
Saturday, 4/26/2025: Empty Chair Town Hall for Troy Balderson 1-3 PM. Troy Balderson is on recess and should be in his home district meeting with constituents, but will he show up? We need to hold Balderson accountable for bowing down to Trump, Musk, and their billionaire friends at the expense of the American people. "Representatives" like Balderson are the ones rolling out the red carpet to authoritarianism. We need to let them know we see their actions, and we will not stand by. We must spotlight their refusal to fulfill their duty to the very people who elected them. And we have a few special guests attending! Location provided on registration.
Stand Up to Support Social Security
This Thursday, April 24, activists all across the country are holding rallies to defend and support Social Security. Indivisible Central Ohio will be delivering letters of support to two of central Ohio’s Social Security offices. We want staff to know that we support them and that we want their jobs – and the Social Security benefits that millions of Americans have earned – to be secure. Please join one of the rallies!
4/24, 10am-noon, 1051 Worthington Woods Blvd, Worthington. Register at this link (enter zip code 43085) or just show up!
4/24, 12-1pm, 1060 Georgesville Rd, Columbus. Register here
Ready to collect signatures?
As a reminder, the Columbus Safety Collective (CSC) is aiming to get an issue on the November ballot to establish a division of community crisis response within the Columbus department of health so trained mental health professionals can respond to 911 calls and other calls for assistance for persons in crisis instead of (or in conjunction with) the police. The goal is to create a safer and more just Columbus for all residents.
EXCITING UPDATE: Signature collection has now started in earnest, and the CSC needs our help! Veteran Petition Gatherers – please come out! Time is short. New to this? You're also welcome. Petitions can be signed out from (and returned to) CSC during their office hours (Thursdays, 6-7pm and Saturdays, 10:30am-noon) at Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Brydon Road from now through JUNE 26 – and they’ll train you there as well.
ICO is in the midst of establishing its own Office Hours closer to "home." THIS WEEK it will be on WEDNESDAY, 4/23, 3-5pm, at Global Gallery, 3535 N High Street in Clintonville. Watch this newsletter as ICO Office Hours may change in coming weeks.
If you have any questions, contact Jackie Bird at jackieoep@gmail.com or Cheryl Grossman at cherylrsgrossman@gmail.com.
Indivisible Central Ohio Onboarding for New Members.
Are you new to ICO? If the answer is yes, you are in good company! It’s no surprise that we grew by thousands after the election, and thousands more after the inauguration. But with so many new members, it's been hard to give everyone the info they need to successfully engage. So, we're hosting an online onboarding session to cover the basics and more!
Join us May 5 at 6pm for the Indivisible Central Ohio Online Onboarding for New Members. Specifically, we will discuss: ICO’s goals; our tactics and strategies; our areas of focus; how to connect with ICO and get involved; where your help is needed right now; upcoming events. Let’s get to work doing everything we can to fight the fascist takeover of our government and our country.
RALLIES & PROTESTS
Every week there are rallies and protests all over central Ohio! You can follow what’s happening in the Events section of our website, indivisible central ohio.org.
Wednesday, 4/23/2025: Weekly Wednesday’s at Bernie’s, 12pm, Bricker Federal Building, 200 N. High Street. All hell is breaking loose in the country and our members of Congress are missing - Especially Bernie Moreno! More info and register HERE.
Weds, 4/23/2025: Weekly Hold Highway Signs! 4:30-6pm, over 71 and 315 (details in the sign up). Every week we have a new highway sign project. Bookmark this Sign Up Genius and join the team! (We have the signs. You bring the manpower.)
Saturday, 4/26/2025: Weekly Tesla Protest! 4:30-5:30, Easton Tesla Dealership. Join the weekly Tesla Takedown protest! Please make sure to ignore any counterprotesters and annoying drivers. Any fighting or fuss just looks bad on us and literally gives Elon fodder to attack us. Even driving by and giving us a supportive honk is appreciated!
Tuesday, 4/29/2025: Weekly Support Veterans Rush Hour Rally, 4:30-5:30pm, Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center, 420 N James Rd, Columbus. Join our Rush-Hour Resistance Rally to protest the cuts to the VA and support veterans! Thousands of cars pass this location during rush hour every weekday afternoon, making this the perfect place to inform people about the crippling cuts that Trump, Musk and DOGE are making to our federal government. Registration (plus more info about the location & parking) HERE.
Thursday, 5/1/2025: National Day of Action, Fight for Public Education! 4:30-7pm, Ohio Statehouse! Register here. Join teachers unions, parents, students, and community members as we demand that our elected officials stop the cuts that are undermining public education in Ohio. Look out for the Indivisible Central Ohio table!
SAVE THE DATE: May 10, “Mothers and Others Standing Against Fascism” rallies! 1-3pm in Columbus. More info coming soon.
Miscellaneous Help Needed
Help "our" refugee family buy their first car!
A group of us from Indivisible Central Ohio formed a welcome team through CRIS for a Congolese refugee family. We are helping them buy their first car and have found an inexpensive, used minivan. (Thank you to the following for your contributions so far: Anne Comarda, Rebecca Morton, Adrianna Kenworthy, Miriam Matteson, Robyn Harper, Adlai Neubauer, Kelly Chellis, Michelle Abate, Ben Leland, Mia Lewis, Susan Dlouhy, Laura Young, Janelle Henderson, Leigh Mamlin, Ronda Mankamyer McIntyre, Susan Haas, Megan Thomas, Lisa Voigt, Deborah Cooper, Linda Wagner, Mary Klain, Annette Wilson, Marian Harris, Sara Sampson, Barb Fleeter, Ann Shroyer, and Amber Decker.)
We still need to raise about $1,500. Anything you can contribute will help! Please send directly to Amber Decker via Venmo (above, last 4 digits of her phone number are 9813), or reply to this email if you'd prefer to arrange to send a check. THANK YOU!
Withholding Title X Funds Threatens Affordable Birth Control Services for Vulnerable Communities
Recent executive orders from the Trump regime, via letter from RFK’s HHS department, have frozen Title X funding to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, along with several other Planned Parenthood affiliates. These attacks on critical family planning services will impact patients seeking birth control, especially those with lower incomes. Although this will have significant impacts on its services, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, will continue to be a trusted, safety net provider to ensure that patients have the freedom to choose their preferred methods for birth control and options to seek affordable, high quality health care. Notably, in 2023, PPGO served 600 fewer patients than the Ohio Department of Health’s network of providers but did it for $5 million less in Title X funds. Now would be a great time to donate!
Spring Cleaning? Here’s a List of the Best places to recycle your treasures
Ever wonder if anyone in Columbus has a use for your extra reusable shopping bags, or your opened package of (unused) tampons, or your gently-used rainboots? Wonder if any organization could make sure a sari or barong tagalog, or a shower stool, or an old-but-functional lawn mower or toaster oven, finds a suitable home? The wizards at Local Matters have compiled a list of agencies around Columbus that can distribute your items directly to clients in need—and right now, those organizations and their clients can use all the help on offer.
TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK
1. OPPOSE the State Budget Provision Requirement that Doctors Provide Additional Private Information for Patients
What does it do? A new provision in the state budget calls for even more private information to be included in that annual report. It would require doctors to list each patient’s blood type, education level, zip code, number of previous abortions, menstrual history, and any method of contraception used. The Ohio Department of Health already produces an annual “Abortion Report,” an accounting of every woman who’s had an abortion in the past 12 months.
What to do (LEVEL – URGENT):
Contact your state senator and urge them to remove the provision requiring doctors to provide personal information to the state that is in the budget. Tell these legislators to remove the provision requiring doctors to provide personal information to the state:
Ohio Senate Finance Committee Chair — Jerry Cirino: 614-644-7718; cirino@ohiosenate.gov
Ohio Senate Finance Committee Vice Chair — Brian Chavez: 614-466-6508; chavez@ohiosenate.gov
Ohio Senate Finance Ranking Member – Paula Hicks-Hudson: 614-466-5104; hicks-hudson@ohiosenate.gov
Sample script:
Hi. My name is ________ and I’m calling from [provide complete address if leaving a message]. I understand that the current version of the state’s budget requires doctors to include additional private information in the Ohio Department of Health’s “Abortion Report.” The report already gives an accounting of every woman who’s had an abortion in the past 23 months, but the reason for this is unclear. Now a budget provision would require doctors to provide even more of their patients’ personal information, including blood type, education level, zip code, number of previous abortions, menstrual history, and any contraception method used. Why is this information needed, and what does a patient’s blood type or education level have to do with reproductive freedom? I expect [elected official] to condemn this attack on privacy and freedom. In 2023, Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed Amendment 1 to enshrine reproductive freedom in our state constitution. I urge [elected official] to and help strike this provision from the state budget. Thanks for your consideration.
2. OPPOSE SB 153 – Require Citizenship Verification Before an Elector May Vote
What’s new: SB 153 received a first sponsor hearing on 4/8/25, and HB 233, the House version of this bill, was introduced on 4/15/25.
What it does: The bill would require verification of an elector's citizenship before the elector may vote and to modify procedures regarding voter registration, voter roll maintenance, absent voting, and election petitions. Read this one-pager about the bill.
What to do: Engage in a quick action. Now is a good time to prepare opponent testimony so you’re ready when a hearing is announced. Sign up here to say you plan to testify or submit written testimony and to be notified when a hearing is called.
Tell these members of the Senate General Government Committee you OPPOSE SB 153:
Kristina Roegner, chair - 614-466-4823; roegner@ohiosenate.gov
Theresa Gavarone, vice chair (and bill sponsor) - 614-466-8060; gavarone@ohiosenate.gov
Willis Blackshear, ranking member – 614-466-4538; blackshear@ohiosenate.gov
Ask your senator to say no to SB 153, and ask your representative to reject HB 233.
Write a letter to the editor in support of your local Board of Elections. See this LTE toolkit.
Sample script:
Hi. My name is __________ and I’m calling from [full address if leaving a message]. I’m calling to urge [elected official] to reject SB 153. This bill attacks the citizen initiative process and threatens voters with potential prosecution. It would disenfranchise eligible voters and shrink the electorate. Even though lawmakers have said there is no need for more big changes in election law, SB 153 represents a huge overhaul. We need to slow down and allow time for implementation of other recently passed election bills. Our boards of election are already under-resourced and overburdened. Adding bureaucratic and financial burdens without providing additional resources is unfair to Board of Elections staff. I expect [elected official] to say NO to SB 153 and its companion bill, HB 233. Thanks for your consideration.
Want to know more? The Ohio Voter Rights Coalition offers a one-page summary of the major impact of SB 153 and a list of the unfunded mandates included in SB 153.
Ideas and Inspirations for You
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
Thursday, 4/24/2024: Thursday Action Group Meeting, noon-1:30. Please join us to welcome John Kulewicz! John is currently exploring a possible run for Ohio Attorney General. He is interested in your perspective as to what is on the mind of Ohio voters and what people expect of the next Ohio AG. He would welcome any questions you might have. Because of the constraints on exploratory candidacies, we will not be recording this informal discussion for further dissemination. Join the Zoom call HERE.
Thursday April 24, 2025: Food Drive and Postcard Party, noon-1:30pm, Room B, Tremont branch of the UA Public Library, 2800 Tremont Rd. Drop off shelf-stable foods (cans, boxed, etc.) and other necessities (toothpaste, diapers, toilet paper, etc.). While you’re there, write some postcards to federal and state officials asking them to fund SNAP and provide food banks with support to meet the need. There will be pens, messages, postcards and some stamps (if you would like to bring postcard stamps, that would be helpful).
Thursday April 24, 2025: School Funding Columbus Town Hall 7-8pm via Zoom. It's time to rewrite the narrative. Let's demand that our lawmakers fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan, a solution that takes into account the actual needs of each district. Our kids are counting on us to build a future where their zip code doesn't determine their destiny. During this zoom the following will be discussed: how state funding decisions are impacting our schools, how the current system perpetuates racial and economic disparities, and stories will be shared with a goal of organizing to build a powerful movement of parents, students, and community members who won't settle for anything less than equity. Register for the town hall.
Saturday, 4/26/2025: Town Hall with invited “Representative” Troy Balderson, 1-3pm Additional space has been freed up by location change for this event. “Balderson needs to face our community! We need to hold Balderson accountable for bowing down to Trump, Musk, and their billionaire friends at the expense of the American people. "Representatives" like Balderson are the ones rolling out the red carpet to authoritarianism. We need to let them know we see their actions, and we will not stand by. We must spotlight their refusal to fulfill their duty to the very people who elected them. We may have a few special guests joining us! (You **must** use THIS Mobilize link to register, and we will send you the location of this event 24 hours before.)
Sunday, 4/27/2025: Postcard Party! 6pm, 219 W Dublin Granville Rd. Let’s stand up for democracy while building a community via a postcard writing party. We will supply cards, snacks and drinks. Feel free to bring anything to make the postcards more fun to read with stickers or markers. For those who are able, stamps are appreciated. Register HERE.
Tuesday, 4/29/2025: ACLU Know Your Rights Training, 7pm via Zoom. Join the ACLU for a Know Your Rights training ahead of May Day to prepare yourself, your friends, and your community. Whether you're planning to protest, support from the sidelines, or just want to stay informed—this training is for you. Register HERE.
Wednesday, 4/30/2025: Indivisible Central Ohio Social Hour! 6pm, Wolfe’s Ridge Tap Room. Our first ICO social hour is coming up soon! Look for the people in the political t-shirts.
Monday, 5/5/2025: Indivisible Central Ohio Onboarding for New Members, 6pm, via Zoom. Join us for this online onboarding and training session! Specifically, we will discuss: ICO’s goals; Our tactics and strategies; Our areas of focus; How to connect with ICO and get involved; Where your help is needed right now.
Wednesday, 5/7/2025: Organizing For Local Action, 6:30pm, via Zoom. This workshop on strategic organizing will give you some of the fundamental tools you need to build community power for the mid- and long-term. After the workshop, you will be able to: 1) discern the difference between advocacy and organizing, 2) understand the importance of building lasting power to create change, 3) know how to identify winnable campaigns and decide on strategies, and 4) develop a long-haul strategy to win campaigns. Depending on interest, an intensive hands-on workshop will be held at a later date at the Columbus Garden School. Budget-friendly workshop fee $5-20; no one turned away for lack of funds. (Just drop us a note.) Register HERE.
Mia & Linda for the Indivisible Central Ohio Team
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