CLEVELAND, Ohio – More than 1,000 came together Saturday to push back at the political issues facing the country.
They gathered Saturday at the Cleveland Heights- University Heights High School for the Resistance Fair, a chance to learn and talk about issues that have raised deep-seated concerns among residents.
The Cleveland Heights Democratic Club hosted the event, which aimed to bring different groups of people together and gain volunteers to fight for issues, including immigration, gun safety, reproductive rights and environmental sustainability.
“People are frightened by the drastic changes that are happening in the country, particularly the acquisition of Social Security numbers by Elon Musk and the halting of scientific research and the deportation of immigrants,” said Suzanne Zilber, the co-chair for the Resistance Fair and volunteer with the Cleveland Heights Democratic Club.
She said the organizers expected 250 people to attend the event. They were shocked when 1,500 people showed up.
“People were saying how good it felt to be there and how good it was that so many people were there,” Zilber said. “People came from far away, like Solon, Medina and Mentor.”
The fair hosted at least 47 organizations. Attendees visited different booths while organizers explained what their missions were and what types of volunteer opportunities were available.
Some organizations and coalitions were Together We Rise, a group dedicated to ending gun violence, Black Lives Matter and Preterm, a group that advocates for reproductive rights and provides health services.
The Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, a group formed in 2016 that mobilizes progressives to fight for economic, environmental, political and racial and social justice, also had a booth.
Vouchers Hurt Ohio, a coalition of public school districts that work together to fight the state’s school voucher program, addressed the issues it faces at the Statehouse.
Some elected officials who showed up at the event included Ohio State Rep. Juanita Brent; Cleveland Heights Council President Tony Cuda; Vice President of Council Davida Russell; and University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan.
When ICE agents arrested five people at the Cilantro Taqueria, a restaurant on Euclid Heights Boulevard and Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights on Jan. 26, residents were stunned.
“We need to mobilize the power of the people to counter the power of the billionaires,” Zilber said.
This article was originally published by a www.cleveland.com . Read the Original article here. .