Our May newsletter focuses on countering SB1, Young Dems of Knox County, and actions you can take. If you don’t already subscribe, you can do so here.
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Dear Knox County Democrats,
It’s been another eventful month, and I hope you were able to participate in at least some of the pro-democracy events held in Mount Vernon and not far away. In the last 30 days, Knox Dems have been active and present at:
- An Empty Seat Town Hall on April 26 in Lancaster, Ohio, aimed at our congressman, Troy Balderson, who as expected, did not show up. (Jerrad Christian, who ran against Balderson in the last election, spoke in his place. Too bad Jerrad can’t vote in Congress in Balderson’s place, too!)
- Significant protests on the Mount Vernon Public Square on May 3 (110 protesters in the rain!) and May 10 (more than 80 protesters)
Such actions are a critical way for us to mobilize and demand change. There is a theory, based on protest movements around the world, that it takes 3.5% of the population to participate in order to shut down dictatorships. With a population of 63,000 in Knox County, that would mean 2,205 protesters. That number seems daunting, but it is achievable – Almost 9,000 people in our county voted against Trump in the last election.
Please keep showing up to Signs on the Square, every Saturday, 1 – 1:30 pm. Bring along all of your like-minded friends, and let’s watch our numbers grow!
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Information about some important issues and activities going on in the next 30 days is below, including details on how YOU can get involved.
SB1
The Ohio state legislature recently passed and the governor signed SB1, commonly known as the Higher Education Destruction Act. This law is directed at state-funded higher education institutions and programs — for example, Ohio State, Ohio University, Youngstown State, Columbus State, etc.
Among some of the most terrible parts of this law are:
- restricting the teaching of “controversial subjects”
- requiring professors to allow for discussion of “both sides” of issues
- banning most diversity policies and programs
- infringing on the rights of full-time faculty to collective bargaining
- eliminating student scholarships that serve diversity and inclusion goals
- requiring universities to eliminate programs that don’t meet a prescribed threshold for number of majors
These issues are beyond problematic. For example, the law does not define “controversial subjects,” so some of our beloved universities are already cautiously implementing changes – to the detriment of students who are paying for and deserve an education that will help them grow as critical thinkers. Also, some programs may be eliminated if they don’t meet the majors minimum, but that means that no one at the university will be able to take a class in that discipline at all. Many Ohioans worry that, in order to get a good education. their children and grandchildren will have to attend colleges in other states, and not be able to stay close by. Find out more about SB1 and the petition process by clicking here.
We are fighting back. Several groups in Knox County and around the state are working to get signatures on petitions to get a referendum on the November 2025 ballot to repeal SB1 – i.e., to void this awful new law.
We have only about four more weeks to collect at least 1,200 valid signatures in Knox County. (We usually aim for double the required quantity because signatures can be rejected for seemingly trivial reasons.)
PLEASE sign the petition as soon as possible at:
Signs on the Square, Mount Vernon Public Square – Saturdays, 1 – 1:30 pm
OR
Knox County Democratic Party Headquarters, 9 E. Vine Street – Wednesdays, 11 am – 3 pm and Saturdays, 11 am – 12:45 pm and 1:45 pm – 3 pm
If you want to sign the petition, but absolutely cannot make it to either location at the times available, please email info@knoxcountydems.org and we will see if we can get a volunteer to come to you, or meet you at a mutually convenient place.
Here are other ways you may be able to help on this (use the provided links):
- Volunteer to collect signatures on petitions
- Donate to the PAC organizing this petition effort so that they can print more petition booklets. (All money will go to the printing of petitions.)
- Volunteer to work in the Knox County Democratic Party office so that we can be open for more days/hours to get petitions signed there.
This is so important, and I know you will make an effort to help out however you can. Frankly, we worry K-12 is next, as well as private higher ed institutions. Let’s nip this thing in the bud!
Young Dems of Knox County
Two wonderful Knox County women, Zynnia and Morgan, are starting a Young Dems chapter for Knox County. Right now, they are working on a mailing to all registered Democrats in our county who are under 40 years old (that’s the prescribed age cutoff for “young” Dems). The mailing will be an invitation to a sign-making party in the Knox County Democratic office on June 13, 5 – 7 pm — the evening before the next major protest on the Square (No Kings! — see below).
If you are interested in this sign-making event, are registered to vote in Knox County, and are between the ages of 18 and 39, you can follow up by clicking here.
Even if, alas, like many of us, you are too old, please feel free to forward this information to anyone you know who may qualify and may be interested.
Candidates Wanted
Have you ever considered running for a political office? If so, there’s no time better than now! Non-partisan offices such as school boards and township trustees need candidates, and you have until August 5 to get your petitions seeking those offices turned in to the Board of Elections. There is also a need for Write-in candidates for Mount Vernon City Council. For any of those offices, please contact the Knox County Board of Elections (740-393-6716) to see if your ward, township, or school board will have positions on the ballot in November.
No Kings Protest, June 14
In honor of Flag Day and in opposition to Trump’s planned military parade, Knox County Ohio Indivisible is hosting a No Kings protest in conjunction with Signs on the Square. It will be held Saturday, June 14, 1 – 2 pm, on the Public Square in Mount Vernon.
This is a nationwide protest, occurring in cities and small towns all across the U.S. – everywhere, in fact, except Washington, D.C., because we want the attention on saving our our democracy, not on the parade that epitomizes Trump’s ideas of self-grandeur. Please join us for this event, and bring a friend who maybe hasn’t yet had a chance to get involved.
Other Events and Actions
First Friday: As usual, Knox Dems will have a booth at the First Fridays this summer, the first of which is scheduled for June 6. Stop by and chat with us, sign the SB1 petition, and learn more about how you can get involved.
Listening to Voters: We are starting our Listening to Voters canvassing later this month. If you didn’t have a chance to sign up to participate via our April email newsletter, you can still do so here.
Keep Calling Our Representatives! Use the 5 Calls app, or sign up for Joan Slonczewski’s Daily Calls recommendations.
Forward this email to friends who may not already receive it. Encourage them to subscribe.
Follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram. And don’t forget our website. These monthly emails are archived there, our office hours are kept up to date, and as we head toward November, election info will be posted as well.
Summer will be upon us soon. Stay safe and be well! I hope to see you all soon!
Kathy Tate, Chair, Knox County Democratic Party