“Where after all, do universal human rights begin?  In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world.  Yet they are the world of the individual person: the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works.  Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal dignity, without discrimination.  Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.”  Eleanor Roosevelt

Click here to view an informational video and learn about the services OCRC offers to the public.

Click here to download the video.

The Ohio Civil Rights Commission and the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission are pleased to announce our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Essay & Multimedia Contest. The purpose of this contest is to encourage students to reflect upon Dr. King’s life and work and to think about how civil rights and diversity affect their lives. All Ohio students in grades 5-12 are invited to participate in this contest.

Click here to view contest winners

Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame
September 10, 2009 10:00 a.m.

On September 10, 2009, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission along with co-sponsors Wright State University, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. will host a formal ceremony that will honor ten (10) citizens who have made significant contributions to the progress of the civil rights and equal justice in the State of Ohio. This program will serve to establish Ohio’s first-ever Civil Rights Hall of Fame and will continue on an annual basis. Through the collective efforts of these organizations, the program will occur as Ohio celebrates the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Ohio Civil Rights Act and establishment of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

Click here or on the invitaion image to view the invitation.

Click here to view the Hall of Fame honorees page.

Click here to view the event.

Click here to view the event photo album.

Proponent testimony provided by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission yesterday in support of House Bill No. 176.  If you wish to view the text for this bill, click here.

Click here to view the PDF format

OCRC Briefing Document

Housing Amendments, click here to view the document

Subject: The Ohio Civil Rights Commission’s (“OCRC”) Position on Housing Enforcement Amendments Contained in HB No. 1 (Budget Bill) and its Rationale for Not Including Additional Legislative Changes Through the Budget Language Process.

Article:
Substantial Equivalency and the Future of Fair Housing in Ohio,
G. Michael Payton, J.D., Executive Director and
Matthew Miko, J.D., former Chief Legal Counsel

OCRC E- Newsletter

The Ohio Civil Rights Journal is published on a quarterly basis and brings you the most up to date on the Commission’s events, news and policy matters.  Click here for the most recent edition.