Labor & Employment Law

Ohio Closing Doors on Rally Participants

By Tula Connell

Crowds are gathering at the Capitol in Columbus, Ohio, to protest legislation that would take away the freedom of working people to bargain for good middle-class jobs.

Watch the live stream here.

Here’s a live report from the Capitol:

The Statehouse is closing doors to rally-goers (but letting the media in) due to it being a ?safety hazard.? Anyone who goes outside can?t come back in. But they?re allowing FAR FEWER people inside this time than last week. 

They?re offering seating across the street, it seems in part to divide the group and make the crowd seem smaller.

Because the atrium, etc. were already booked until 2 p.m., the plan had already been for the crowd to stay outside. 

Follow the action on Twitter with the #StandUpOH hashtag. For all the action in the states, check out the hashtag #statesSOS.  Here are the latest tweets from Ohio.

jacobmanser Jacob Manser Just arrived at the Statehouse. Get down here to stand up AGAINST Senate Bill 5 and FOR our workers and futures. #StandUpOhio!

OhioEA OEA We’re at OEA, epicenter of the surge vs. SB 5! Hundreds pouring out for the Statehouse right now — join us! #sb5 #standupohiobarbiesnow barbie http://

ProgressOhio ProgressOhio Join Thousands Of Us Today At The Statehouse! #StandUpOhio #p2 http://fb.me/HSDe4BTt

StandUpOhio. #StopSB5 Can’t make it to the #OH Capital? Blow up the petition: http://bitly.com/h0L3BU Please Retweet! #StateSOS #OHUnion

@ProgressOhio ProgressOhio Video: Bargaining Bill Draws 450 To Vent Opposition In Youngstown http://bit.ly/gA8DwF #StandUpOhio #StopSB5 #OHUnion

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 22, 2011 (boomark / email).