On Wednesday, Dec. 11, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), Jewish Voice for Peace and community leaders plan to hold a press conference to urge Ohio lawmakers to not pass S.B. 297, a bill that would restrict freedom of speech in the state.
The bill is one of many across the country designed to stifle political speech against the far-right Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza and its many other human rights abuses targeting Palestinians and others. If passed, it would falsely equate criticism of Israel with antisemitic discrimination and expand the offense of ethnic intimidation to include the offenses of riot and aggravated riot.
WHAT: Press Conference to address impact of S.B. 297, highlight bill’s violations of civil liberties, and urge community members to take action.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 11, at 3:00 PM
WHERE: Ladies Gallery, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Sq. Columbus Ohio
WHO: CAIR-OH, Jewish Voice for Peace Cleveland, Community Leaders
CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com; , Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, CAIR-OH, Columbus | Cincinnati | Dayton, (614) 401-6692, kturaani@cair.com
“We are deeply troubled by the misguided language of the bill which undermines fundamental human rights, including the right to speak and organize in support of Palestinian rights.” said CAIR-Ohio Cleveland & Northern Ohio Executive Director Faten Odeh
Since October 2023, community members have gathered in solidarity with the Palestinian people on campuses and City Halls across Ohio; each peaceful demonstration ending with the unnecessary use of violent force by law enforcement, resulting in numerous arrests and violations of civil liberties.
“No one should be intimidated to speak up for human rights. The only difference between laws on the books that criminalize hate speech and SB-297 is that the new law, if passed, makes it a crime to exercise the first amendment right to criticize a foreign country, Israel.” said CAIR-Ohio Columbus |Cincinnati |Dayton Executive Director, Khalid Turaani.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com