A steady stream of rain did not prevent about 75 union supporters from gathering outside the Athens County Courthouse Tuesday to protest Senate Bill 5 and cuts to education.
Beth Clodfelter, a faculty member at Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College, said she organized the rally because of her strong feelings against the bill, which would limit collective bargaining rights of public employees. It passed in the Ohio Senate early this month and is now pending approval in the state House.
“S.B. 5 could have detrimental effects on this community that I really, really love,” said Clodfelter.
Clodfelter also expressed anger toward Sen. Jimmy Stewart (R-20th), who represents part of Athens County. Clodfelter said that Stewart’s vote was the final one needed for the bill to pass the Ohio Senate.
“This (bill) is not about money,” said Evan Young, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens. “Our government is attempting to take away a freedom, a right, and we are here to resist.”
In between speeches at the rally, the crowd shouted chants of “Kill the bill” and “What’s disgusting? Union busting.”
Nate Hall, a member of Student Senate and candidate for Athens City Council, also expressed frustration with elected officials.
“(Governor John) Kasich is not listening to Ohioans,” said Hall. “We need to come together to fight this.”
Hall said that if the bill passes through the House, a referendum should be created to allow Ohioans to vote directly upon the proposal.
Several of the speakers also discussed Kasich’s state budget, which was released Tuesday.
“If someone says this budget is fair, this budget doesn’t cut education, then they are wrong,” said Bernhard Debatin, a journalism professor at OU. “I’m appalled at what is going on.”
Soon afterward, the crowd erupted into a chorus of “They say budget, we say bullshit.”
“Education is our future,” said Debatin. “I’m afraid this country has forgotten that.”
Clodfelter encouraged the protestors to take further action by rallying in Columbus and to express their views about the bill to their representative.
“The rally is an important component, but it’s not enough,” said Clodfelter. “There is a power in being heard and that’s what we’re doing here, but we can always do more.”
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