ICO Newsletter - 7/23/25
Good Trouble in Columbus
Last week, ICO teamed up with the Amos Project, Common Cause Ohio and Columbus Stand Up to honor the memory and legacy of Congressman John Lewis on the fifth anniversary of his passing. The gathering brought Congressman Lewis’ spirit of defiance and righteous struggle to today’s fight. After hearing from some tremendous speakers as well as a spoken word poet and a singer, some attending marched on to the statehouse for another rally. Everyone who attended is ready to get into some good and necessary trouble, and we hope you are too!
Weren’t able to join us on the 17th? Watch a highlight reel HERE, the whole truly inspiring event HERE, or individual clips of each speaker/performer by going to our Indivisible Central Ohio YouTube channel. Oh, and see a few photos from the event HERE. Thanks to John and Mishka Griffin for these amazing recordings!
Also, many thanks to all the ICO members who put the event together (Ann Shroyer, Heather Lauderback, Alissa Friedman, Meryl Neiman, Michelle Lerner and more) as well as to Deidra Reese from the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and the Amos Project, Morgan Harper from Columbus Stand Up, Catherine Turcer from Common Cause Ohio, and all the other speakers and performers.
NEXT UP: Hands Across High Street
On Saturday, August 9, we will all have a chance to make some GOOD TROUBLE right here in Columbus. Heads up: this is a two-step sign up process. Sign up for the event via Mobilize HERE, plus also pick a spot along the route via Sign Up Genius HERE.
Join us in forming a human chain along High Street all the way from Route 161 in Worthington to downtown Columbus, delivering the message that WE STAND UNITED in support of these fundamental values:
We DEFEND the rights of millions of law-abiding immigrants who fill vital roles in our economy and make America a richer, stronger nation
We OPPOSE the creation of concentration camps within the United States and the renditioning of immigrants to internment camps in other countries
We DEFEND U.S. international aid that has saved more than 90 million lives worldwide
We OPPOSE the loss of health insurance through Medicaid and Obamacare for 17 million Americans, reductions in SNAP benefits that could affect 22 million families and government interference in women’s health care decisions
We DEFEND Medicare and Social Security programs that older Americans depend upon, and the Veterans Administration that helps fulfill our promise to care for those who have sacrificed for all of us
We OPPOSE the gutting of staff and funding at FEMA, the National Park Service, the National Weather Service, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the EPA, the U.S. Post Office and other public agencies that provide essential services
We DEFEND research and policies designed to combat climate change
We OPPOSE dismantling the Department of Education and the imposition of government-mandated restrictions on topics that can be taught in our colleges and universities
We DEFEND the rights of Palestinians, Ukrainians and other vulnerable populations to life, liberty and self-determination
We OPPOSE the continued military aggression by Russia against Ukraine, and we call for an immediate end to further military aid to Israel until that government complies with the Geneva Conventions and other applicable international laws
We DEFEND science-based policies and expertise within the Department of Health and Human Services that have helped protect Americans against infectious diseases
We OPPOSE tax cuts that overwhelmingly favor the rich while adding more than $3 trillion to our national debt
We DEFEND the democratic principles that have defined the United States of America for 249 years!
This will be our final opportunity for a major summer protest before the new school year begins, and we want to make it huge! Join with thousands of people to line the sidewalks from Worthington through Beechwold, Clintonville, the University District and the Short North. See a map of the rally segments HERE. Sign up below and make your plan to be a part of Hands Along High Street Aug. 9!
One more time: this is a two-step sign up process! Sign up for the event via Mobilize HERE, plus also pick a spot along the route via Sign Up Genius HERE.
ICO’s Billboard Sightings
WOOHOO! The first 2 ICO billboards have gone live in the rural parts of Rep. Mike Carey’s district. They are in good traffic areas with great visibility and give ICO the opportunity to share a message with a more rural audience.
The ICO Billboard committee is currently considering placement and content for the next billboards! (Go us!) Want to help ICO fund these billboards? You can contribute HERE.
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.
This Week Only
Thursday, 7/24/2025: Say Something, Rally the Community, 4:30-5:30 PM, Grant and Livingston Ave, Columbus. Bring your signs, your voice, and a friend and say something about how you are feeling about the current state of affairs in this country. See the flyer for the event HERE and register to attend HERE.
Weekly rallies
Saturday, 7/26/2025: Protest in Delaware, noon to 1 PM. Let’s protest together and let folks know that we are tired of all the shenanigans.
Saturday, 7/26/2025: Tesla Protest! 4:30-5:30 PM, Easton Tesla Dealership. Join the weekly Tesla Takedown protest! Even driving by and giving us a supportive honk is appreciated!
Tuesday, 7/29/2025: Rush Hour Rallies, 4:30-5:30pm,
Eastside, Support Veterans: Chalmers P. Wylie Ambulatory Care Center, 420 N James Rd, Columbus. Come out to support our veterans! Registration & more info HERE.
Worthington: Join us to deliver our message of resistance to commuters at the intersection of Route 161 and High St. in Worthington. Organized by the Worthington Area Democratic Club and Westerville Progressive Alliance. Signup & parking info HERE.
Join the Overpass Army!
A fun and easy entry to anti-Trump activism is to join our crew as we hold signs over the highways. Upcoming dates are 7/25, 7/29, 8/1 and more – all 4:30-6pm. Details, directions and sign up are HERE. Bookmark that location as we add dates every week. We have the signs and flags. You bring the manpower!
Pop up Protests... when there isn’t time to formally organize
These days, terrible things can happen with little warning and no lead time to plan a response. There are situations that are so unsettling that individuals may feel the need to have a place to go for a 'rapid response protest.’ The timing can make it difficult for ICO to quickly vet protest organizers to provide guidance to our members about alignment with ICO values.
Here’s a solution to this problem: together with allied groups in the area, we’ve identified locations around central Ohio that are good for a pop up protest. In the event that we’re facing another situation like the bombing of Iran, we'll send out a message with the list of locations for members to go and protest (with a friend). You can see the list HERE – but we’ll send it out again as needed!
35th Anniversary of the ADA
Signed into law by George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, this landmark civil rights law affirmed the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of disability. Getting the bill through Congress took 11 hearings and two conferences over nine months. View the signing ceremony HERE. Learn more HERE.
Note: tragically, the website now has the following disclaimer: ”Documents on this website are being reviewed and updated as necessary to comply with President Trump's executive orders.”
Take Action to debunk Husted’s LIES
On July 3rd, Ohio Senator Jon Husted sent out a newsletter defending his decision to vote for the big budget bill. ICO volunteers are debunking his 8 claims in a series of videos on social media. We are using the Senator's words verbatim, researching the realities, and sharing the outcomes of that research.
We hope you will join us in sharing these videos within your networks and on your social media accounts so we can make sure everyone knows Husted’s stated reasons for signing the bill are lies.
The best way to share is via the YouTube Playlist: Husted Claims Debunked. (The list includes new videos added since last week.) Each video in the series is available in this one list. When you share the list, everyone gets the updates.
We’re also posting new videos to:
Indivisible Central Ohio's Private Facebook Page
Indivisible Central Ohio's YouTube channel
Indivisible Central Ohio's Instagram
Columbus Safety Collective
Come out and collect signatures with us! The Columbus Safety Collective will be collecting signatures until the end of the year, but now is the time to get started!
Get booklets and training:
ICO Office hours: Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm, Global Gallery, 3535 N High St.
CSC Office hours: Thur, 6-7pm & Sat, 10:30am-noon, Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Brydon Road.
Find places to collect signatures:
More sign ups at this Mobilize link
For info or materials outside of regular office hours contact Jackie Bird (jackieoep@gmail.com) or Cheryl Grossman (cherylrsgrossman@gmail.com).
Indivisible Central Ohio Reading/Learning Club!
ICO is gauging interest in forming a reading and learning club focused on progressive issues. Topics would include state and local politics, immigrant rights, unionization, LGBTQ+ issues, and education, in addition to any other topics members want to learn more about. This concept is still in the early stages, so if you're at all interested, please use this link to let us know what you'd like this to look like. Thanks so much and we hope to hear from you!
Ralph Carter and We Are Linden are running the Project Safe Summer Program this year, to keep kids engaged in a safe environment where they can have fun and learn leadership skills to serve them throughout the year. Ralph has put out a call to their Village (that's US!) to rally donations to keep the kids hydrated and fed as well as funding field trips this summer.
Donate at this link (SCROLL DOWN) via Ca$happ or Venmo, or contact Ann Shroyer at Randomann@gmail.com. Thank you!
ICO Social Events Group
In case you didn’t know, ICO has a Social Events Club, and they’ve been busy! The recent trivia night in partnership with United SHE Stands, Honesty for Ohio Education, and Ohio Women's Alliance was a huge success. We had a packed house at Endeavor Brewing in Grandview. We have already reached out to United SHE Stands about making it happen again.
ICO social hour grew out of a desire for community, and community is resistance! It’s a casual space to either commiserate about what is pissing you off, or find distraction and respite with like-minded people. Our monthly meetings are a place to get to know other members outside of organized protests, to talk about what matters to you, get support, and have fun!
The Social Events Club is planning to diversify our activities coming up, with the possibility of another trivia night or a painting event. We will update you as we solidify plans! Our next Social Hour event will be July 30th at 6pm at Columbus Brewing Company East. Hope to see you there!
PS: Reply to this email if you’re interested in getting involved with the team that is planning events!
Ideas and Inspirations for You
Upcoming Events (Calendar view)
TONIGHT! Wednesday, 7/23/2025: ICO In-person Meeting, 6:30-8pm, 1st UU Church, 93 W Weisheimer Rd, Columbus. Join other members of Indivisible Central Ohio for our monthly in person member meeting, fourth Wednesday of every month. We will discuss current actions and activities and hear from you about your ideas for new actions!
Wednesday, 7/23/2025 - Thursday, 7/24/2025: The Last Class Film, time varies per day. Gateway Theater, Columbus. Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich delivers his last “Wealth and Poverty” class, sharing his reflections on education and inequality. Get tickets.
Thursday, 7/24/2025: Thursday Action Group, 12-1:30pm, via ZOOM. Please join us as Wendy Ake from the Community Response Hub of Central Ohio (the “Hub”) explains what the Hub does and how we can help. Community Response Hub supports efforts to defend communities at risk of deportation and detention in Central Ohio. Please check out this Hub response form before the meeting. The meeting link is HERE.
Thursday, 7/24/2025: Democrat Social Hour, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Weasel Boy, 126 Muskingum Ave., Zanesville. Refresh your spirits in the good company of fellow Democrats!
Thursday, 7/24/2025: Matter News Community Conversations: Inside the Outsider Campaigns, 8pm, Two-Dollar Radio, 1124 Parsons Ave, Columbus. For this month’s Community Conversation, Matter News will be joined by Columbus City School Board candidate Mounir Lynch and Tristina Allen, a key member of the team working in support of Columbus City Council candidate Jesse Vogel. The discussion will cover the benefits and challenges of mounting an outsider campaign, along with other related topics.
Sunday, 7/27/2025: ICO Postcard Party! 6-8pm, 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.
Wednesday, 7/30/2025: ICO Social Hour, 6-8pm, Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall. Join us for a drink and the opportunity to get to know some other Indivisible Central Ohio folks!
Wednesdays, 7/30 and 8/13/2025: One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism, 8-9:30pm. The No Kings team has organized a national effort to train one million people in the strategic logic and practice of non-cooperation, as well as the basics of community organizing and campaign design. Join these training events HERE.
Saturday, 8/1/2025: Young Democrats meeting, 2:00 pm, Democrat HQ, 146 Muskingum Ave., Zanesville.
Wednesday, 8/6/2025: Ohio Progressive Democratic Caucus Organizing Committee formation meeting, 7:30-8:30pm, Columbus Main Library Meeting Room 2B or Zoom. Join us for our first chance to connect face-to-face, build momentum, and map out what comes next — together. Register HERE.
Wednesday, 8/6/2025: Fairfield County Indivisible Monthly Meeting in the Park, 6-8pm, Pickerington. Sign up and details HERE.
Saturday, 8/9/2025: MCDC Annual Dinner, 6:00 pm, IBEW Hall, 5805 Frazeysburg Rd., Nashport. We have guest speakers (Dr. Amy Acton, Elliot Forham, Laura Sirot, Jason Adams). Dinner catered by our chef, Al Zakany! Tickets are $30 each. Payable by cash or check at the door, or HERE.
Saturday, 8/9/2025: Hands Across High Street, 2-3:30pm. Join us in forming a human chain along High Street from Route 161 in Worthington to downtown Columbus, delivering the message that WE STAND UNITED against the abuses of the Trump regime and for democracy and basic human values. Register HERE and choose location HERE.
Mia & Linda for the Indivisible Central Ohio Team
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