News & Commentary

Photograph courtesy of Lig Ynnek, Creative Commons

Editor’s Note: On May 23, Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo was acquitted in the shooting deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.

Michael Uth is a member of the ACLU of Ohio Board of Directors.
This post was first published on the Ohio Daily Blog.

Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s words echo in my ears whenever people state how we should be careful when we write

Read our previous blogs on the more recent Ohio protests, "Fallout from Ferguson: Takeaways from Two Ohio Protests," "Black Lives Matter: Marching on Washington," and "Survival Conversations."
The third step is sustaining the energy to demand accountability. If we are not vocal about a particular issue, then the public official does not know we need change. Furthermore, that public official may think we are not paying attention. Accountability must be a two-way street: the public demands and the official reacts.

The start of a New Year is a time for reflection and celebration. Let us do just that—reflect and celebrate—but keeping in mind that 2016 is going to be a big year for Ohio.

Happy New Year!
For more information about protesting peaceably, check out “Protestors: Know Your Rights!” and “What to Do if You're Stopped by the Police.”