Our First Amendment rights are under attack, Friend.

Ohio Citizen Action’s Board of Directors recently voted to oppose House Bill 109. Here’s why:

The bill clearly equates activism with terrorism

The language forbids people and organizations from providing “material support and resources,” which is a specific phrase used in Ohio law to define terrorism (adopted after the events of 09/11/2001). Organizations that violate HB 109 would be subject to dissolution or seizure of assets.

Under HB 109, acts that would be considered illegal include, but are not limited to:

• Organizing people to protest at an event where civil disobedience may occur
• Transporting people to and from protest events where civil disobedience may occur
• Paying the bail of a person arrested

The fact is 93% of protests across the country from May 2020 to August 2020 were neither violent nor destructive, and there have been no fatalities in Ohio.

The goal of HB 109 is not protection, but oppression

The rules imposed by HB 109 would effectively “chill” our rights to free speech. Because terms stated in HB 109 are broad, and its effects may be uncertain, it would push Ohioans to avoid demonstrating free speech at all, for fear of arrest or prosecution.

Proponent testimony has already been held on HB 109, and there is no time yet slotted for opponent testimony. Of course, if the bill does not gain enough traction – which is what we’d like to see – there will be no opponent testimony. But at this rate, we and many others anxiously await the chance to testify against HB 109.

In the meantime, please voice your opposition to HB 109 by calling your state representative at 1-800-282-0253. 

Ohio Citizen Action

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