OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE OPEN LETTER

June 19, 2026

To our community:

This has been a challenging week for the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). As you know, swarms of federal agents raided offices and visited the homes of staff, volunteers, and partners connected to our work.

We want to be abundantly clear: We have done nothing wrong. We are proud of our work, stand by our program and staff, and will not be deterred from carrying out our vital mission.

We will always comply with lawful requests, but we will fight for our rights.

The targeting of OOC is the latest effort from those in power to silence individuals and organizations they disagree with. Even for groups that have done nothing wrong, the intrusive investigative process is the punishment. They want to scare people from volunteering, donating, and participating in our democracy. We won’t let them win.

OOC and our partners have one goal: ensure that all Ohioans — regardless of age, income, or race — can participate in our democracy. To date, we have lawfully registered more than 600,000 to vote.

For years, certain politicians in Ohio have tried to make it harder for people to vote. As part of that effort, they targeted voter registration programs, including OOC and its partners. Time and again, our programs stood up to scrutiny. Now, in a broader campaign to undermine our democracy, the federal government is attempting to interfere with Ohio’s elections by manufacturing conspiracy theories.

A democracy cannot thrive when the federal government uses its authority to punish organizations it views as adversaries — critics, elected officials, civil rights leaders, and grassroots organizers standing tall for communities on the ground.

Make no mistake: OOC will defend our constitutional rights and stand up for the rights of all Americans. We will not be deterred from registering Ohioans to vote. Our canvass, outreach and engagement programs will continue as planned.

OOC is confident in the integrity of our operations. We will not back down when Ohio’s democracy is at stake.

We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that OOC has received from community advocates, donors, Members of Congress, and voters.

We recognize there will be rumors and speculation, and we expect additional attacks from the administration on us, our supporters and peer organizations around the country. It’s clear their goal is to instill fear and chill civic participation. We continue to stand with every organizer and advocacy organization working to protect the freedom to vote, because our future depends on the decisions we make together.

The path forward requires more than concern — it requires action. By investing in our communities, participating in our democratic process, and casting your vote, you can help build a stronger, more vibrant Ohio for the generations that follow. Visit our website to learn more, including how you can donate, volunteer with OOC, and help others in Ohio register to vote.

Stay strong,

Molly Shack Strickland
Executive Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative

Rev Michael Harrison Sr.
Board Chair, Ohio Organizing Collaborative