Students and faculty members participated in a protest organized by KSUnited against the passage of Senate Bill 1 in the Ohio Senate on March 20.

The bill, which includes provisions to limit union power and ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, has sparked concerns from faculty, students and activists, who fear it undermines workers’ rights and academic freedoms.

The rally, led by KSUnited, began after noon outside the of Student Center with attendees holding signs reading “We won’t be silenced! We won’t be erased!” and “Say No 2 SB1.” The crowd chanted slogans demanding lawmakers to reconsider the bill and its implications for higher education and workers’ rights.

Jacquelyn Bleak, a peace and conflict studies professor, addressed the crowd encouraging students to continue fighting for their rights. She urged students to recognize the importance of activism. 

“There’s a part of me that’s scared, but there’s a part of me that’s so hopeful because you are such remarkable, young activists and scholars,” she said. “Whenever anyone tells you that you are not a scholar or that you don’t have an opinion worth expressing, that is not true, your voice matters.”

The rally also marked a moment of unity among students, many of whom had never before participated in such activism. The President of BUS, Julian Grimes, reflected on the unity present. 

“To see all of these students come together is incredible,” Grimes said. “Kent State is like its own world. Right now we’re all, as a world, fighting against this one common enemy, and it’s bringing us closer together than I ever thought it would. That is probably the most diverse I’ve ever seen this room look.”

Grimes attributed the success of KSUnited to the collaboration of student groups on campus. He highlighted how various organizations came together to mobilize for the protest.

“We all had a meeting with student leaders, Sister Circle, [United Greek Council], BUS and others,” he said. “We realized we’re gonna need a government over this to make sure this gets done, we need a solidified fuse.”

An eye-witness from May 4, Dr. Roseann “Chic” Canfora, a School of Media and Journalism professional-in-residence, attended the protest to observe the student activism.

Canfora expressed pride in seeing students continue the tradition of activism at Kent State. She reflected on the importance of peaceful protest and following in the footsteps of past generations.

“I’m here as an observer, I’m very proud to see that these students are following the legacy of student activism at Kent State, and that they’ve taken up a very worthy cause. I’m very proud of them and came to just show my support for them,” Canfora said.

She emphasized the significance of Kent State students’ platform, pointing out that the university’s history of activism gives students a unique opportunity to amplify their voices.

“As Kent State students, they have a louder megaphone than other college campuses,” she said. “They’re using that opportunity, they’re rising to the occasion to not only model strong student activism but peaceful protest.” 

University police kept watch from a distance during the protest, but it remained peaceful. 

“They’re mindful that they will not let people who are prone to violence taint their righteous actions,” Canfora said. “I’m very proud of them modeling for other campuses what effective student activism looks like.”

Dennis Farahani, co-president of the Spanish and Latino Student Association, expressed his pride in Kent State’s ongoing commitment to social justice.

He said the university has long been a place where students advocate for meaningful change, and that this protest was a continuation of that tradition.

Farahani noted that the solidarity seen at the rally demonstrates the sense of community at Kent State, where students can come together to fight for causes that impact not only their campus, but also society at large.

“I am so honored to be here,” Farahani said. “I’m just so proud that Kent State continues its tradition of standing up against absurd policies.” 

The goal of the event was not only to oppose Senate Bill 1, but also to raise awareness and encourage others to take action in defending the rights of students, workers and marginalized communities, he said.

Farahani added that SALSA was invited to join the protest, emphasizing that there are critical issues within the Latino community, particularly regarding ICE and immigration policies. By joining the rally, the organization showed solidarity with other communities, and helped amplify the voices of those impacted by these policies.

He also praised KSUnited’s efforts, in particular the collaboration between various student organizations. 

“I think we did a great job of advertising, especially with how fast everything was put together,” he said.

Although Ivory Kendricks, a senator for the College of Public Health in Kent State’s Undergraduate Student Government, could not attend the protest, he played a key role in ensuring the petition was accessible and widely promoted.

Throughout the afternoon, protesters marched into the Student Center and concluded the protest in the Rathskeller. Students gathered to sign a petition opposing the bill.

Speakers at the rally urged the crowd to take action and contact their state representatives as SB1 prepares to move to the Ohio Senate for further debate.

Renee Ellis, student and member of BUS, rallied the crowd with a message that carried during the whole event.

“We are what makes Kent State great and will continue to fight for what is true,” she said. “They cannot erase us, they cannot erase what we do. They will erase our past. We will continue to fight for us and for our communities.” 

Makayla Jones is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].