OHIO — Thirty-five demonstrators gathered outside the Ohio Building on Madison Avenue in downtown Toledo Friday morning to protest the war in Gaza.
The protest remained peaceful for about an hour before six participants were arrested after blocking the building’s main entrance by sitting in front of it. Organizers had announced in advance that the arrests would occur as part of the demonstration.
Earlier, the group draped yellow crime scene tape across the entrance but allowed people to enter and exit by walking underneath it.
Organizer Mike Ferner, a former Toledo city councilman and two-time mayoral candidate, said the Ohio Building was selected because it houses the local office of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio). Ferner, a member of Veterans for Peace, said the group opposes Husted’s support of Israel’s military campaign and is also pressing for answers regarding the arrest of Toledo activist Phillip Tottenham.
Tottenham, 47, a former Marine, was reportedly among about 400 people detained by Israeli forces after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a 43-boat mission attempting to challenge Israel’s blockade.
“Senator Husted supports all Ohioans’ First Amendment right to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard,” his office said in a statement. The office added that Husted has been monitoring the flotilla incident and was told those detained will be “peacefully repatriated and returned to their countries of origin.”
Those arrested Friday were Ferner, Al Compaan, Paul Hebling, Tom McDonald, Susan Kuehn, and Nancy Larson.
