Ohio Bikers Make Themselves Heard at the Statehouse

by Kyle Weidleman  |  June 13, 2011

Bikers from across Ohio participated in a "Ride to Kill the Bill" at the Statehouse in Columbus on Saturday. (Photo by Aryeh Alex)

On Saturday, We Are Ohio held an anti-Senate Bill 5 rally and "Ride to Kill the Bill" around the Ohio Statehouse. The rally organizers hoped to draw attention to their campaign to get the citizens' veto of the anti-worker legislation on the November ballot.

The motorcycle rally is just one of We Are Ohio's various statewide petition signing efforts, which also include drive-by signings, at which voters can sign the petition from their cars. These statewide efforts have helped generate an incredible outpouring of support for the citizens' veto.

"We have been inundated with requests. They not only want to sign the petition, but to circulate it to family and friends. They want to know what they can do to help," We Are Ohio spokesperson Melissa Fazekas told the News-Herald.

Support for the citizens' veto has spread across party lines and inspired previously inactive Ohioans to jump into political action. Columbus police officer Jerry Cupp has become one of the most vocal critics of both SB 5 and the governor for whom he voted. "Nothing good is going to come of this," Cupp said. "You've got all the public workers, our friends and family all lined up on our side."

The petition drive and workers' rights activism comes at a time when Ohio’s Republican legislators have written the new two-year budget largely behind closed doors. Their budget includes an expansion of charter schools, privatization of the state lottery and turnpike, and anti-worker language from SB 5; all of which were added to the budget without any public input. While AFSCME members fight to repeal SB 5, we are also demanding that the budget-writing process be opened up to public scrutiny.