DeMora Denounces Yost's Felony Threat Against Students

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) denounced Attorney General Dave Yost’s threat against students exercising their First Amendment right to protest in a letter sent to Ohio’s University presidents, citing a law from 1953 meant to crack down on the Ku Klux Klan.

“It is disgusting that the Attorney General is trying to intimidate students into believing that they could be charged with a felony, citing a law that was specifically written to go after the KKK,” said DeMora. “His thinly-veiled efforts to encourage law enforcement to charge student activists with felonies is a pigheaded, blatant misread of the law. I hope that Dave Yost takes his letter and shoves it where the sun don’t shine!”

In the letter sent to all public University presidents, Attorney General Yost wrote, “There are few more significant career-wreckers than a felony charge. I write to inform your student bodies of an Ohio law that, in the context of some behavior during the recent pro-Palestinian protests, could have that effect.”

Ohio Revised Code 3761.12 makes it a fourth-degree felony to commit a crime with two or more people while wearing white caps, masks or other disguises. The section was implemented in 1953, following similar legislation across the country to prevent Ku Klux Klan rallies. The penalties for violation are up to 18 months in prison, 5 years of parole, and up to a $5,000 fine.