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COLUMBUS, Oho —The Equal Districts Coalition — a group of over 30 Ohio advocacy organizations and labor unions engaged in the redistricting process relative to state legislative and U.s House of Representative seats from Ohio  — released the following statement after Republicans announced that they will appeal Ohio's congressional map to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"Ohio's top Republicans must assume Ohioans have incredibly short memories. These are the same politicians who chose to give our state Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction over Ohio's redistricting process. Now that their own laws are standing in their way of cementing their gerrymandered districts, Republicans want the laws overturned so they can force illegal maps into place.

"It's especially ironic that one of the Republicans asking for a federal bailout is Matt Huffman, who literally wrote the language giving Ohio's Supreme Court exclusive power over state redistricting law. Huffman's connection to this appeal further broadcasts how brazenly Ohio Republicans are attempting to maintain government seats they did not earn and illegally hold — no matter the cost to our democracy.

"This move is another appalling insult to over 70% of voters who approved Ohio's redistricting reforms. It blatantly disregards and disrespects the people's voice. The lawbreakers behind this appeal are putting their reckless pursuit of power over democracy and over Ohioans, who have been ignored throughout this entire redistricting debacle.

"It should also be noted that a central bedrock of federalism — which Republicans usually wholeheartedly embrace — is that state courts are the final arbiter of what state law means. It seems these Republicans' values only go as far as the laws they want permission to break. 

"Everyone but the most radical, right wing extremists agrees state courts have the final say on interpreting and applying state constitutional law. The final hope for Ohio's top Republicans is that the U.S. Supreme Court is now made up of such extremists. For democracy's sake, let us hope they are wrong."

Ten of Ohio's top Republican officials have repeatedly violated state law without consequences. 

The Equal Districts Coalition is naming these villains — lawbreakers who do not deserve to hold elected office:

• Governor Mike DeWine

• Secretary of State Frank LaRose

• State Auditor Keith Faber

• Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy

• Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer

• Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine

• Senate President Matt Huffman

• House Speaker Bob Cupp

• Senator Rob McColley

• State Rep Jeff LaRe

The Equal Districts Coalition will continue fighting back until Ohio voters receive the fair, constitutional districts they demanded.

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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, Ohio Farmers Union, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the Ohio Environmental Council, OFUPAC, 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, Ohio Unity Coalition, Equality Ohio, The Freedom Bloc, and more.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com the most read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and in the Midwest Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview, CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWS.COM, OHIO'S LEADER IN BLACK DIGITAL NEWS.