SURJ Ohio is supporting work in Hamilton County to elect a Sheriff, District Attorney and judges who align with the demands of incarcerated people and their loved ones. Will you join us?

We're part of an amazing coalition in Hamilton County that's focused on building people power for the long haul. SURJ Ohio is connecting with white voters to bring them into alignment with racial justice at the ballot box and to support the visions of Black and Brown leaders in Cincinnati. We need white voters to show up in support of the organizing efforts of communities of color. And we need your help to call those voters!

We know that elections are only part of the battle, but 2020 gives us a chance to build a massive base of people working to end mass incarceration in Ohio. We're organizing for a future that is big enough for all of us, and we want you along for the ride!

What to expect

Phone banking shifts include a training that will cover everything you need whether you're a first-time volunteer or an experienced phone-banker. You'll need a computer with an internet connection and a phone to make calls. You can sign up for as many shifts as you like. Once you've gone through a phone banking shift with us, you'll have the option to get started making calls quicker after a shorter training.

Why this election is historic

*trigger warning: police murder*

On one side of this race you have a candidate who has engaged in excessive use of force and has previously murdered an unarmed Black man during his time as law enforcement. He would be the first person in 50 years who had been found guilty of using excessive force to kill an unarmed Black man and still been elected as sheriff.

He is running against a woman who has crossed the "blue wall of silence" by whistle-blowing on her fellow officers when she witnessed police brutality inside the local jail and who advocates for rehabilitation over incarceration.

Who gets elected now at the local level can really shape what we're able to win in the next few years. It can be someone who has a known history of deadly excessive force, or someone who advocates for accountability in our unfair and harmful criminal justice system.

SURJ Ohio is a statewide network of groups and individuals working to undermine white support for white supremacy. Through campaign work, community organizing, mobilization, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of multi-racial coalitions for justice with passion and accountability. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change.