Ohio Statehouse Shut Down Over Demonstration By Anonymous

Last month Ohio House members were informed of a pending demonstration by the group known as Anonymous to be held today at the Ohio Statehouse.  The memo, sent from House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger’s office, informed  the members that “security measures” would be put into place.

It turns out those “security measures” involved completely shutting down the Ohio Statehouse grounds and many of the entrances.

Members of the group claim they were turned away from gathering on the statehouse steps for not paying a $50 fee.

It’s unclear what type of threat the speaker’s office or the Highway Patrol may have expected from the group, which numbered around 10.  But it appears this may have been a severe overreaction that likely cost the state a lot of cash, while preventing Ohioans from accessing their statehouse.

In my ten years of covering statehouse politics I have never seen this type of shutdown.

“Anonymous” members at the Ohio Statehouse