Equal Districts Coalition Demands Fair Maps Ahead of Congressional Map Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2021

Contact:
Katy Shanahan, 614-372-6980, shanahan@redistrictingaction.org
Rachel Coyle, 419-351-5844, coyle@innovationohio.org

COLUMBUS — TODAY, the Equal Districts Coalition — a group of over 30 Ohio advocacy organizations and labor unions engaged in the 2021 redistricting process — held a press event at the Statehouse, calling on legislators to vote against any congressional map that is not fair and representative.

Watch the press conference HERE.

“We've seen what has happened over the past decade of unearned Republican supermajorities in Ohio. Rigged lines lead to extreme politicians who pass dangerous laws that devastate our communities. Every organization here today is working on different issues, but we're all directly impacted by rigged maps. Every single Ohioan is too,” said Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio.

The Equal Districts Coalition is calling for a congressional map that keeps communities together, empowers communities of color, and reflects how Ohioans vote. A fair map would break down to eight Republican seats and seven Democratic seats in Congress.

“Ohio’s congressional maps should fully represent Ohio’s Black and Brown communities, and not serve as a power trip for one political party. Fair maps do not crack or pack our communities in order to hold onto power or oppress us,” said Jeniece Brock, Ohio Citizens’ Redistricting Commission Vice Chair and Policy and Advocacy Director for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative.

Following the press conference, Equal Districts Coalition partners and supporters remained at the Statehouse for an advocates' lobby day. Ohioans will continue meeting with legislators throughout the day to advocate for a fair congressional map.

"When redistricting, map drawers face a clear choice — to preserve their own personal political power or to preserve our democracy. The Republicans have very clearly chosen to relegate Ohio to another decade of politician-chosen power, where we voters are shut out of the political process and where our communities are denied any real say in who represents us. Their proposed maps are an insult and a clear showing that they have not entered this conversation in good faith. Unfortunately, it is all of us Ohioans who will suffer the consequences of their choice to put their own party's political power over our democracy,” said Katy Shanahan, Ohio State Director for All On The Line.

Statehouse Republicans appear to be angling to vote on a final map later this week. Late last night, Republicans introduced a new map, crafted behind closed doors without input from the minority party or the public. This map will likely give Republicans 87% of Ohio’s congressional seats, despite the fact that Republicans only win about 55% of Ohio’s statewide vote.

“As the AAPI community grows, our political concerns grow with us. We are eager to contribute to the political landscape of Ohio. I urge our state legislators to reject the proposed gerrymandered maps. We are watching closely to see if you will choose to stand with Ohioans fighting for our democracy, or if you will cheat us out of the fair, transparent process we voted for," said Jona Hilario, Statewide Co-Director, OPAWL — Building AAPI Feminist Leadership

Here’s what Equal Districts Coalition partners are saying about this crucial process:

Whitney Siddiqi, Community Affairs Director, CAIR-Ohio:
“It is critical that the Muslim community – a community that so often experiences institutional discrimination and is so often either ignored or vilified by elected officials – has access to fair representation and our votes are not diluted through gerrymandering. We refuse to settle for a map that cheats us and so many other minority communities out of equal districts."

Chris Tavenor, Staff Attorney, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund:
“Ohioans overwhelmingly want clean water, healthy public lands, and increased renewable energy. The past ten years of gerrymandered congressional districts illustrate that without representatives responsive to their whole electorate, Ohio’s congressional delegation ignores these needs. To combat the climate crisis now, we need fair districts now. The maps proposed in SB 258 and HB 479 ignore the supermajority of Ohioans who want equal representation in Congress.”

Petee Talley, CEO, Ohio Unity Coalition:
“All Ohioans deserve a voice in Ohio government, but gerrymandered maps mean that one party is intent on representing a special interest, and that interest is themselves, regardless of what the voters have to say about how Ohio should function for its citizens. No one party should have seats in Congress so grossly exaggerated and not representative of how Ohioans have cast their votes.”

Kobie Christian, Communications Director, For Our Future Ohio:
“Across Ohio, folks yearn for meaningful representation and a better redistricting process. It’s plain to see that’s not what we’re getting. HB479 and SB258 blatantly pack our communities into token districts to reduce the political influence of communities of color. Ohio legislators should not, under any circumstances, pass a map that gives any party more seats than they have earned. No more cheating, no more stealing, no more rigged maps.”

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The Equal Districts Coalition is the largest redistricting coalition in Ohio, with over 30 member organizations. It includes the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, OAPSE/AFSCME, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the Ohio Environmental Council, Innovation Ohio, the Ohio Student Association, ProgressOhio, All On the Line-Ohio, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Ohio Council of Churches, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, URGE – Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, LEAD Ohio, the Ohio Women’s Alliance, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Education Association, CAIR-Ohio, Campus Vote Project, For Our Future Ohio, Ohio Unity Coalition, Equality Ohio, The Freedom Bloc, and more.