Columbus, OH –

Today, the Columbus Safety Collective Campaign announced an initial slate of endorsements from local and statewide partner organizations, all of whom have pledged support for an alternative-police response program to meet the mental health and safety needs of community members in crisis. 

The campaign is currently collecting thousands of signatures for The Community Crisis Response Amendment to ensure that a fully funded alternative response system will be on the City of Columbus’ municipal election ballot this November. This proposal will add a Community Crisis Response Division within the Department of Health to complement existing city response programs.  

All of the endorsing organizations are united in their commitment to: reimagining public safety, investing in community care, reducing violence, strengthening trust in city institutions, and saving lives. The Campaign is founded by the ACLU of Ohio, Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change, and Ohio Voice. 

The current list of organizations supporting the Columbus Safety Collective Campaign include: 

• Abortion Forward
• Asian American Midwest Progressives
• Black Men Build
• Columbus Stand Up
• Indivisible Central Ohio
• Law Enforcement Action Partnership
• League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus
• National Association of Social Workers – Ohio chapter
• Ohioans Against Extremism
• Ohio Citizen Action
• Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
• Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality
• Ohio Women’s Alliance
• OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
• Policy Matters Ohio
• Working Families Party

“We are thrilled and grateful that such a broad and diverse coalition of advocacy organizations have pledged support for the Columbus Safety Collective Campaign. Our proposal will reduce the over-reliance on law enforcement for community crisis response needs to ensure that trained health professionals and community responders will offer services that are person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally component. All of us deserve to feel safe when asking for help – and the current structure leaves many residents afraid or unwilling to contact emergency services for help during mental health emergencies. The growing list of endorsements is a vote of confidence from our partners that this program will transform Columbus for the better.” 

Learn more about the Campaign.