Thursday, August 7, 11:30am, Ohio Statehouse [near the McKinley statue]

Residents of Ohio will hold a press conference on Thursday, August 7 at 11:30am at the Ohio Statehouse [near the McKinley statue] to demand an end to the forced starvation in Gaza and Ohio’s investments in Israeli companies and bonds.

Speakers, including veterans, lawyers, faith leaders, students, and healthcare workers, will call for divestment from entities complicit in Gaza’s starvation and alleged war crimes.

The event follows rising public pressure on counties like Franklin for financially and ethically questionable investments in Israel.

Who:

• Ohio Divestment Coalition

• Baladna-Palestinian Society of Columbus

• Veterans for Peace (VFP)

• Eisenhower Media Network

• Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition (CPSC)

• American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)

• Greater Dayton Peace Coalition

• Dayton Arab Social Association (DASA)

• Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community (CPAC)

• Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP)

• Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)

• Young Souls for Revolutionary Action (YUSRA)

• Doctors Against Genocide (DAG)

What:

• Emergency Statewide Press Conference demanding end to U.S.-funded starvation in Gaza and divestment from Israel companies and private affiliates.

When:

• Thursday, August 7, 2025, 11:30am

Where:

• Ohio Statehouse [near the McKinley statue]

Speakers:

• Josephine Guilbeau, U.S. Army Veteran, Associate Director of communications at Eisenhower Media Network

• Mazen H. Rasoul, Rasoul Law Office, President, Palestinian Society of Columbus

• Jonathan Nortmann, Cincinnati Palestine Solidarity Coalition, Ohio Divestment Coalition

• Jawhara Qutiefan, President, AMP Columbus, Ohio Divestment Coalition

• Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich, U.S. Army (Ret.), Director of Eisenhower Media Network

• Phillip Tottenham, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Veterans for Peace

Why now:

• Gaza is facing mass starvation, and aid is being intentionally restricted

• Israel bonds have dropped below investment grade — yet Ohio counties still buy in

• Pending legislation (S.B. 87 and H.B. 188) threatens to silence divestment campaigns

• Ohioans are saying loud and clear: “Not in our name. Not with our tax dollars.”

Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Interviews and questions for speakers and organizers will be available on-site. Press packets and visuals will be provided.

Contact: Muhammad Daoud, Ohio Divestment Coalition, 937-825-0666, <muhammadrdaoud@gmail.com>, or <ohiodivest@gmail.com>.