Elected Leaders and Civil Rights Rally in Support of OOC
June 22, 2026
On June 11, swarms of federal agents raided the Cleveland offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC) and fanned across the state to question employees, volunteers, and community leaders — for simply carrying out their mission of ensuring all Ohioans, regardless of age, income, or race, can exercise their right to vote.
Ohio lawmakers, civil rights organizations, and voting rights advocates see this as what it is — a scare tactic designed to stop Ohioans from volunteering, donating, and participating in our democracy.
Here’s what Ohio leaders, lawmakers, and advocates are saying:
OOC Board Chair Rev. Micharl Harrison Sr. joined MS NOW host Jacob Soboroff to discuss OOC’s commitment to continuing canvassing, outreach, and engagement work amidst baseless attacks. “We've done nothing wrong, and in the midst of doing nothing wrong, there's nothing to be found. There are no charges to be filed [...] Election registration is not election fraud” Rev. Harrison said. “Let me say this: we understand that we're not the first [to be targeted]. We understand that we won't be the last, but we need it to be clearly understood. There's a song that we sing in our church: ‘We will fight, we will win.’”
"Let me be very clear: voter registration is not voter fraud. Urban communities voting is not voter fraud. Black Americans voting is not voter fraud. This appears to be a blatant effort to suppress and deny the vote of people in Northeast Ohio." Rep. Shontell Brown (OH-11) emphasized in a statement. Brown added: “Unfortunately, this appears to be part of a systematic effort by Trump and Kash Patel's FBI to attack our elections and perpetuate more myths of voter fraud – all to undermine and challenge any election result that Trump does not agree with."
“Voter registration and lawful voting by American citizens is not fraud. This egregious federal overreach is another example of coordinated efforts to suppress voting rights and voter registration, and it amounts to an unprecedented attack on our democracy,” Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) said.
“The Ohio Organizing Collaborative is a group that has focused on working families and improving democracy… This raid appears to be an attempt to intimidate voters in Ohio” Rep. Greg Landsman stated. “This is incredibly troubling and answers are needed.”
Ohio state leaders emphasized the threat that politically motivated investigations have to democracy and freedom of speech.
“I’m deeply concerned by reports of an FBI raid on the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, which has long worked to expand voter participation and strengthen civic engagement across our state,” Cuyahoga County Executive Ronayne said. “Every voter deserves to participate in our democracy without fear, confusion, or intimidation and encouraging citizens to register to vote and cast a ballot is not a crime. All Ohioans deserve answers and transparency.”
"A federal government that threatens and intimidates civil rights organizations is a government that is willing to trample on anyone's rights” Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) said. “We have seen this before, both in our country's darkest periods and with anti-democratic regimes throughout the world. It is un-American to use the government's weight to silence its citizens' voices."
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb (D-Cleveland) stressed what should be uncontroversial in a functioning democracy: "Encouraging eligible citizens to register and vote is not wrongdoing. Community organizing is not wrongdoing. Civic engagement is not wrongdoing."
“Reports of the FBI raiding a voting rights organization in Ohio are deeply disturbing and are a transparent attempt at silencing Ohioans and their ability to vote in free and fair elections” former Senator Sherrod Brown emphasized. “Federal law enforcement should never try to intimidate eligible voters from exercising their right to participate in democracy.”
Civil rights groups connected the raids to a long history of voter suppression and abuse of law enforcement to further a political agenda.
“This Administration has exhibited an alarming pattern of escalation when it comes to using law enforcement to intimidate and punish people or groups that they perceive to be their enemies,” said Americans Against Government Censorship Executive Director Cole Leiter. “It should alarm every single American that this president and this administration now view nonpartisan voter registration as a threat to their political agenda and their ability to hold onto power. Our democracy is strongest when every American has a voice at the ballot box, and it is weakest when those in power try to silence the Americans’ voices. No president—Democrat or Republican—should have the power to use government to punish or intimidate other Americans from participating in our democratic process.”
"Voter intimidation, suppression, and harassment at the hands of law enforcement are familiar tactics to Black voters” the Legal Defense Fund stated. “They are insidious echoes of the centuries of violent discrimination meant to undermine Black political power."
"This appears to be an outrageous fishing expedition, an attempt to intimidate people working for democracy in our communities and country” Michael Waldman, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice said. “It is an egregious abuse of law enforcement for political ends."
“We are deeply concerned by reports that federal agents have visited the homes and worksites of employees, volunteers, canvassers, and community activists associated with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, seeking to question individuals engaged in voter registration and civic engagement work without warrants” the North Shore AFL-CIO said. “We condemn these actions, which threaten to intimidate volunteers and suppress civic participation. We not only have a right to organize, advocate, and participate in civic life—our democracy depends on it.”
“The FBI raid of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC) office should outrage anyone who believes in democracy, regardless of political affiliation. For 20 years, the OOC has played a vital role in making sure people across Ohio can exercise their freedom to vote. And it is their belief in American democracy and the power of the vote that has now made them a target”
All Voting is Local said in a statement. “We have seen this playbook before and realize it for what it is: an attempt to silence Black and Brown voters and the organizations working toward a more inclusive democracy. This desperate attempt can threaten, intimidate, and keep people from voting.”