To be added to the Ohio Ping List,
please freepmail LasVegasDave.
Posted on 03/06/2011 7:28:45 PM PST by buccaneer81
OSU-Wisconsin game becomes SB5 rally point Sunday, March 6, 2011 09:20 PM By Collin Binkley The Columbus Dispatch
A group of about 150 protesters rallied near the Schottenstein Center today, opposing the state's proposed collective-bargaining overhaul and getting varying degrees of support and opposition from fans on their way to the Ohio State University men's basketball game.
Chanting slogans against Senate Bill 5 and waving signs at traffic, the protesters said they chose to rally outside the matchup with Wisconsin because it gathered spectators from two states entrenched in similar debates about the rights of public workers.
"It's a great basketball rivalry, and we have this shared experience," said Sue Lally, a Worthington resident and retired teacher with Groveport Madison schools.
Both states are debating legislation that would scale back the collective-bargaining rights of public employees. Ohio's Senate Bill 5 passed on a 17-16 vote on Wednesday and awaits a vote in the House.
Today's protesters spread along Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road on the intersection's northeast corner, angering some fans who walked west to the arena and were slowed by the crowd before crossing the road.
"What does it have to do with basketball?" asked Colt Carnahan, a 20-year-old OSU student on the way to the game with fellow student Jordan Brown, also 20.
"They're feeding off of the crowd and distracting from the game," Brown said.
Some fans jeered at the rally as they walked by; others waved fliers passed out by protesters.
Jeff Rhoad, a veterinarian who drove down from Findlay, said he respectfully disagreed with the protesters' message but was more concerned about the game.
Most of the protesters were affiliated with teachers associations and service-employee unions, but among them was Mary Jo Kilroy, a Democrat and former Ohio congresswoman.
"The governor has made public employees' rights out to be the enemy, and I don't think my children's teachers or our firefighters are the enemy," she said.
Republicans have said the bill is necessary to deal with looming budget deficits. Those in opposition have said it takes away rights that are critical to workers. The conflict has drawn crowds of up to 8,500 to the Statehouse in recent weeks during Senate hearings.
Police said the protest was peaceful, and the group dispersed about 4 p.m. as the Buckeyes and Badgers tipped off and the last spectators were entering the arena.
Teachers and students organized similar protests against Senate Bill 5 at Bowling Green State University on Thursday and at Ohio University on Friday.
They're too stupid to realize that this makes the fence-sitting public come over to our side in droves.
Ohio SB 5 ping!
Here is my top 25
Ohio State
Kansas
Brigham Young
San Diego State
Pittsburgh
Duke
Notre Dame
Purdue
Syracuse
Texas
Utah State
North Carolina
Wisconsin
Florida
Arizona
Cincinnati
Louisville
George Mason
UNLV
Kentucky
Georgetown
Xavier
Connecticut
West Virginia
Kansas State
Villanova
St. John’s
This makes almost as much sense as those idiots who were protesting the Arizona Diamondbacks road baseball games last year. What a bunch of dingbats.
The Buckeyes sure looked like #1 today. Sweet revenge.
Wow, 150 people. LOL. What a joke.
In real news, Ohio State OWNED Wisconsin on the court. What a blowout. Can you say, “payback”?
God Bless our Ohio plowboys.
There was a time when we could enjoy a concert or a sporting event without concern that we would have to hear the performer's half baked political philosophy or without having to run a gauntlet of spoiled brat lefties squawking about their latest cause.
There is no getting away from them - they're at the supermarkets with their signs and whining, they bombard us at community events and now they can legally harangue people that attend burials to pay their respects.
I agree Iron Munro. Constantly about some political cause that should have never made it to the political arena.
But, there is a very good reason they have to put ‘everything’ into politics and therefore it becomes a governmental cause...
They successfully took God out of the Public Square. Their success in doing this has created a morality vacuum. All of nature hates a vacuum. So instead of a God-fearing people creating a good and moral culture, we have liberals substituting God with government to influence the culture.
This means they have to be everywhere! From those fancy little organic signs and labels at the grocery store to protests at entertainment venues.
Excellent point!
I don’t recall the exact quote from Michelle Obama in 2008, but I do recall my exact response at the time...
Render unto Cesar what belongs to Cesar...
Socialism renders everything unto the government. Not just your money, but your good works too. Kids being required to perform community service that church’s used to do, retiree’s being expected to perform community service...
They fill in God with government requirements.
Good grief, won't this woman go away? We don't think they are the enemy either, but the union that represents them are!
Cesar Chavez?
or Hugo Chavez, LOL
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