ICO Newsletter - 5/7/25

Written By Indivisible OH12

“Not on Our Watch!” Rally at Bicentennial Park
This Saturday is a big day for Indivisible Central Ohio. We’re putting on a HUGE rally at Bicentennial Park and we need you to be there with your whole crew!

In honor of Mother's Day weekend, we invite mothers and others to join us in standing up and speaking out against fascism. NOT ON OUR WATCH!

Your Indivisible Central Ohio team has been working really hard to put this rally together. Please come out to support us, to protest this illegitimate and harmful government, and to make your voice heard as we stand up against fascism.

Register HERE!


The Columbus rally will be at Bicentennial Park, 1-3pm. Here’s what we have in store for you (with more plans being finalized this week) at this family friendly event:

  • A kicking sound system plus sign language interpreters so everyone can follow what is going on

  • Speakers:

    • Deidre Reese from Ohio Organizing Collaborative

    • Diane Bailey from The Communication Workers of America/AFL-CIO

    • Mitch Lerner from the Ohio State University

    • Anne Shroyer and other ICO speakers

    • Letters from people who have lived under authoritarian rule

  • Singers from the Columbus Women’s Chorus and more music & musicians

  • A march led by drummers, with marchers wearing black armbands

  • An art project for kids at the rally, plus noise-makers for them to use while we march

Help us make sure this protest rally has a huge impact:

  • Sign up to attend!

  • Invite friends via the Facebook link (you can invite 500!). This will really help spread the word

  • Post the registration link on BluSky, Reddit, Discord, Instagram…

  • Sign up to be a marshal or just an extra set of hands

  • Bring your drum (whistle or other instrument) and help lead the march

  • Arrive a little early to take part in the art project we have planned


Not Just in Columbus: Sign up to attend or host in your community
There are many May 10 "Not on Our Watch" rallies planned across the state, and room for more. If you are thinking about organizing a rally yourself, please jump in! You can register your event HERE. If you’re looking for an event to attend elsewhere in Ohio, Zoom in on Ohio on this map to find an event near you. 

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, 5/7/2025: Weekly Wednesday’s at Bernie’s, 12pm, Bricker Federal Building, 200 N. High Street. Let's hold Moreno accountable to the people and taxpayers of Ohio. His office is on High Street with lots of public visibility! We demand to be seen AND heard - just like his rich donors. More info and register HERE. 

5/8 & 5/13/2025: 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, 5/10/2025: Weekly Protest in Delaware, noon to 1 PM. Let’s protest together and let folks know that we are tired of all the shenanigans.

Saturday, 5/10/2025: 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, 5/13/2025: Weekly Rush Hour Rallies, 4:30-5:30pm, now in TWO LOCATIONS. Join our two Rush-Hour Resistance Rallies! 

  • Eastside, Support Veterans: Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center, 420 N James Rd, Columbus. This huge facility, serving veterans from a wide area, is on James Road just south of the Columbus Airport. 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 and DOGE are making to our federal government. Registration (plus more info about the location & parking) HERE. 

  • Worthington: We’re expanding our Rush-Hour Rallies to a new high-visibility location. Join us Tuesday, May 6, to deliver our message of resistance to commuters at the intersection of Route 161 and High St. in Worthington. Concerned about proposed cuts to Social Security services? Appalled by the abduction and renditioning of legal immigrants? Outraged by the theft of our private information? Generally dumbfounded by the chaotic combination of evil and incompetence coming from the White House? Make up a sign and let people know! Organized by the Worthington Area Democratic Club and Westerville Progressive Alliance. Signup & parking info HERE.

Saturday, 5/10/2025: Protest Husted and Moreno, 4:30-7pm, Hilton Columbus Downtown, 402 N High S, Columbus. Meet us at the Hilton after either the Mothers & Others Standing Against Fascism rally (~1-3:30 pm) or the Easton Tesla Takedown protest (4:30-5:30 pm) to tell the Senators that all Ohioans will be heard! Join us to let Senators Husted & Moreno know that they have been busted for attending the Center for Christian Virtue gala at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. Bring your signs and your voices! Note: CCV has been designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Anti-SB1 Signature Gathering Can Begin
Governor DeWine signed SB1 into law on March 28 despite a massive public outcry against the “Ohio Education Destruction” bill. Youngstown State faculty quickly put together a referendum, collected initial signatures, and obtained the Attorney General’s approval to move forward to collect the more than 250,000 valid signatures that will be needed to get a repeal of the measure added to the November ballot. Between now and November, enactment of SB1 is paused. The referendum effort would love your help collecting signatures! Check here to find out how to get involved and where to sign.

Onboarding Resources
Indivisible Central Ohio held an online onboarding session on Monday this week. If you missed it, here are some useful links: 

TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK

1. SUPPORT Full Implementation of Fair School Funding Plan in the Ohio budget

What’s new: The committee will hold a fourth hearing about operating education-related budget appropriations on Weds., May 7, 4 p.m., South Hearing Room. This hearing will include both invited testimony and public testimony!

What Sub. HB 96 does: Eliminates the implementation of the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan 

  • Increases school vouchers, transferring additional public tax dollars to private education with little government regulations or oversight 

  • Eliminates all elected roles on the State Board of Education—cutting this governing body to 5 members, all appointed by the Governor

  • Requires school districts to let students leave for at least one hour per week for Released Time for Religious Instruction—a clear government overreach following the recent passage of the "LifeWise bill"

  • Re-establishes mandatory retention of 3rd grade students based only on standardized test scores—a policy that disproportionately impacts Black and brown students. This deeply problematic policy was previously eliminated in 2023.

What to do: 
Contact these Senate Finance Committee members:

Contact these Senate Education Committee members:

Sample script:
My name is ______ and I’m calling from [full address if leaving a message]. I am calling to let [elected official] know that I strongly object to the House version of the state’s budget, which eliminates the implementation of the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan. (Share your own positive public school experience if applicable.) The House Republicans’ proposed budget is shameful and unacceptable. If Ohio does not fully phase in the Fair School Funding Plan, rural areas will be hit hardest, but the 90% of kids in Ohio who attend public schools will be affected no matter where they live. I expect [elected official] to support the state budget ONLY if it fully phases in the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan, INCLUDING updated cost inputs. I will be sharing [elected official’s] response with my friends, family and networks. Thanks for your consideration.


2. OPPOSE Elimination of Requirement that a Percentage of the General Revenue Fund Be Dedicated to the Public Library Fund in the Ohio Budget

What’s new: Invited public testimony from Ohio Federation of Teachers, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Buckeye Institute, and Ohio Excels; public testimony regarding public libraries will be Mon., May 12, 3 p.m. (tentative schedule, location TBD).

What this does: Changes to Gov. DeWine’s proposal have been made to Sub. HB 96 (budget bill) that would drastically cut state funding for public libraries, which economists say is bad for the economy. This unprecedented elimination of the Public Library Fund comes at a time when libraries across the state already saw a $27 million shortfall in state funding in 2024. Ohio’s libraries are currently funded at the same level as in the year 2000 with no adjustment for inflation. The sub bill currently:

  • Reduces state funding for Ohio’s public libraries by more than $100 million over the biennium as compared with Gov. DeWine’s proposal.

  • Creates a new distribution formula that would cut funding to public libraries in 39 counties on July 1. There are 93 library systems in these 39 counties, and 20 of them do not have a local levy. 

What to do (LEVEL – URGENT): Begin preparing testimony for May 12 hearing.

Contact these members of the Senate Finance Committee:


Sample calling script:
Hi. My name is ____________ and I’m calling from [full address if leaving a message]. I urge [elected official] to restore the Public Library Fund to at least a fixed 1.7%, the current amount of state revenue. Ohio’s public libraries depend on funding from the state’s Public Library Fund. This fund not only sustains day-to-day operations, but also the books, resources, programs, and services that all Ohioans, from children to seniors, rely on. [Say how important the library is to you and your family, and how a cut to libraries will affect you and your neighbors.] Thanks for your consideration.

We are committed to having a positive impact in our local community! Every week under the “ICO Gives Back” banner, you will find a suggestion for somewhere that your contribution can make a real difference. 

This week we are asking for donations to Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Trump has cut almost $1 billion in funds available to food banks, including a program that buys food from farmers and sends it to food pantries, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).


You can donate directly to the Indivisible Central Ohio donation page at this link, or via the QR code. 

Remember:

“They CUT, we CARE.”

Collect Signatures for the Columbus Safety Collective 
CSC is public safety campaign advocating for an independent non-police emergency response program in the city of Columbus. 50,000 signatures are needed by June 28.

Get booklets and training: 

  • ICO Office hours: Mondays, 5:30-7pm, Global Gallery, 3535 N High St.

  • CSC Office hours: Thurs, 6-7pm & Sats, 10:30am-noon), Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Brydon Road.

Find Places to collect signatures:

For info or materials outside of regular office hours contact Jackie Bird (jackieoep@gmail.com) or Cheryl Grossman (cherylrsgrossman@gmail.com). 

Women’s Progressive Leadership Circles now accepting applications!

The Women's Progressive LEADership Circles (WPLC) strive to provide the tools and social-emotional support systems necessary to navigate the intense world of government and campaigns. The time has come—the Women’s Progressive Leadership Circles (WPLC) is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort. If you are a woman running for office in Ohio in 2025, this program is designed to support your leadership journey. The Circles are open to women in any geographic region of the state. Circles are open to women who are actively campaigning for an elected office in the 2025 election cycle only. Apply here.

Ideas and Inspirations for You

Upcoming Events (Calendar view) 

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. 

Thursday, 5/8/2025: Thursday Action Group Meeting, noon-1:30. Mike and Janie Halaiko have graciously agreed to host this Thursday Action Group meeting! It will be a catch-up meeting to share experiences and thoughts about the ways we’ve been working to save our democracy. Join the Facebook group for more info on getting involved! 

Friday, 5/9/25: POP, DROP & GIVE to Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. May 9 marks the 65th anniversary of the FDA’s approval of the first birth control pill. With the Title X funding freeze attacking access to care, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is still fighting to protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare in Ohio. Every donation made by May 9 will be matched up to $55,000, doubling its impact to help fund birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, and so much more. Give online, by phone (614-224-2235, option 5), or by mail (PO Box 933233, Cleveland Ohio, 44193-0035) to have your donation matched, dollar for dollar. 

Thursday, 5/15/2025: Central Ohio AFL-CIO Labor Council Postcard Writing and Sign Making Party, 6-7:30pm, Central Ohio AFL-CIO Labor Council, 4150 E Main St, Columbus. “Labor is under attack! We must remain United in Purpose and United in Action! Come together in Solidarity where we will write thank you notes to federal workers under attack and design posters for upcoming demonstrations. Please register here for food and beverage counts.”

Saturday, 5/17/2025: Indivisible Central Ohio State Budget Forum: Protect Healthcare & Education, 2-4pm, Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, main auditorium. Join us for a forum focused on the state budget. Republicans have proposed cuts to education, healthcare, & more, so we all need to fight back to help protect Ohio families. We will hear from policy experts and state legislators to learn more about what is currently in the budget and what we can do to stop the cuts! Register HERE. 

Sunday, 5/18/2025: Postcard Party! 6:30-8pm, 219 W Dublin Granville Rd, Worthington. 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.


Mia & Linda for the Indivisible Central Ohio Team

Enjoying this newsletter? Forward it to a friend!

Find us at our website indivisiblecentralohio.org. Check out our Linktree! Follow us here and on our public and closed Facebook pages to stay current with all our activities. Add our Indivisible Central Ohio Google Calendar so you can follow all our events. You can also follow us on Threads, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, Reddit, and Discord. Get involved by filling out our “Join us” interest form!

Indivisible OH12
Previous

ICO Newsletter - 5/14/25
Next

ICO Newsletter - 4/30/25