On Saturday, protesters gathered outside the North Ridgeville office of State Senator Nathan Manning to voice their disapproval ,of the voting records of several members of the Ohio state legislature. The protest was organized by Lorain County Rising.
“The purpose of this protest was to draw attention to the voting records of Lorain County’s three Republican representatives: State Senator Nathan Manning, State Representative Gayle Manning, and State Representative Kellie Deeter,” Lorain County Rising founder Lili Sandler wrote in an email to the Review.
In particular, the protest called attention to recent votes regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, the rights of transgender individuals, the powers of the Ohio Department of Health, and the carrying of concealed weapons. All three of the members of the legislature voted to prohibit DEI programs in community colleges and public universities in Ohio as part of Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law March 28. State Senator Manning also voted in favor of a bill banning transgender individuals from using their preferred bathroom at colleges and universities. Representative Manning has voted to limit the Ohio Department of Health’s ability to issue health orders during pandemics and to eliminate training requirements for the carrying of concealed weapons.
“They called themselves good Christians and good for education, and they voted against children in schools and libraries,” Ann Pilisy, a member of Oberlin Democrats who attended the protest, said. “They voted straight party-line.”
As of Wednesday, neither the Senator nor the representatives have issued any responses to Saturday’s protest online.
Between 120 and 150 people from various cities throughout the county attended the protest, including those from Oberlin, Wellington, Grafton, Elyria, Lorain, Avon, Avon Lake, and Sheffield Village. Sandler estimated that at least 20 of the protesters were from Oberlin.
This demonstration marks a continuation of nationwide protests that have been happening throughout the month of April. On Saturday, protesters also gathered in Cleveland and Akron to speak out against recent policies of the Trump administration.
“The Cleveland rally, held at Public Square, drew hundreds of protesters,” an article by Bryant McCray in WKYC reads. “Organizers said the event was one of many across the country aimed at opposing what they call attacks on marginalized communities, including immigrants and activists.”
Despite the smaller size of the North Ridgeville protests compared to other recent gatherings, Sandler has deemed it no less significant.
“This was certainly a smaller event, but no less important,” Sandler wrote.
Pilisy is similarly happy to see participation, of any size, in these protests.
“Democratic parties are just growing in membership and organization and strength and influence, so it’s really gratifying now that across … Lorain County we have pretty strong democratic parties in every city,” Pilisy said.
This protest will not be the end of Lorain County Rising’s efforts this spring. More protests are scheduled between now and the end of May.
“We have protests planned for every Saturday between now and May 31, other than May 3, when we will be in the Big Parade [in Oberlin],” Sandler wrote.
Sandler encourages those interested in participating to reach out.
“The best ways to get involved are to join Lorain County Rising, by emailing [email protected], or by joining our private Facebook group,” Sandler wrote.
