Protesters are scheduled to gather at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday afternoon to demand police accountability.
Last week, Columbus saw another case in which a white police officer killed a Black resident. Organizers like Aramis Sundiata from the People’s Justice Project welcome reforms like the new Civilian Review Board, but he says that shouldn’t distract from further efforts.
“What often happens when those developments occur is to pacify the mass of the people, to pacify the people from doing what is necessary to push these issues and agendas forward,” Sundiata said.
This week, city officials asked the U.S. Department of Justice to review racial bias within the Columbus Division Of Police. Friday, a federal judge placed new restrictions on the division’s ability to use non-lethal weapons like tear gas against crowds.
Meanwhile, a “Back the Blue” rally planned for earlier Saturday was abruptly called off Friday afternoon. The pro-police gathering would have included Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in its list of speakers.
In a lengthy statement on Twitter, the congresswoman and Q-Anon conspiracy sympathizer, claimed the event was called off because they weren’t provided with security fencing.
