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Statehouse Democrats Push For Hate Group Legislation

Rep. David Leland (D)
The State of Ohio
Rep. David Leland (D)

Democrats in the state Legislature are supporting a new bill that would officially denounce white nationalists and neo-Nazis. 

The bill from Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus) would recognize white nationalists, neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups as terrorist organizations. And it would direct police to track those groups, as they do other similar ones.

“These people are terrorists and we need to treat them as such and we need to call them out.”

Democrats will need help from majority Republicans to pass this legislation. There’s no word yet on whether they will do that. But in a written statement, Rob Secour of the Ohio Republican Party says white supremacy has no place in our country. He quoted President Trump saying,”it is time to come together as Americans with love for our nation and true affection for each other.”

Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.