[COLUMBUS, OHIO] — We are pleased to announce the launch of Operation Having Equality Advanced Locally (HEAL). Operation HEAL OH was formed to provide support to a coalition of like-minded individuals and entities working to eradicate systemic racism throughout Ohio.
We will be holding a launch event for Operation HEAL on Juneteenth (Friday, June 19) at 10:00am at the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park, 404 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215. Juneteenth has been celebrated by the African American community since the late-1800s and commemorates the abolishment of slavery in the United States. The Washington Gladden Social Justice Park was dedicated to Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden, a Columbus community leader who opposed racial segregation and was one of the nation’s leading advocates for social justice including; civil rights, workers’ rights, voting rights, religious pluralism, school integration, and the needs of the poor and oppressed.
Operation HEAL supports the following call on Governor DeWine, Ohio Attorney General Yost and the Ohio General Assembly to Develop a Task Force to Immediately Address Systemic Racism and Police Brutality in the State of Ohio. The Governor and the Ohio Department of Health must declare Systemic 1
Racism as a public health emergency immediately. Sweeping changes must be enacted in all areas of disparity, including the areas of Emergency Services, Healthcare, Voting and Elections, Education, Financial, and Housing. Operation HEAL looks to support and drive actions taken by the State, municipal and local government through all levels of legislation to begin to codify true equality and remove the multitude of systemic barriers for all communities of color.
More information on our organization and our calls to action can be found at www.operationhealoh.org.
We are also on social media at @OperationHEALoh.
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