Concerns of racial bias and prejudice in Ohio media are being raised once again, this time with the focus falling upon the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Ohio House Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, was sponsor the House version of SB1, Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, a bill Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law last month (above).
SB1 prohibits public schools of higher education in Ohio from promoting DEI or using DEI standards in student admissions or staff hiring considerations. Critics accuse the bill, among other things, of opening the door for racial unfairness and discrimination against minorities in Ohio.
Williams, a historic public servant in his own right as the first Black Republican elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 50 years, strongly disagrees and argues vigorously on the floor of the House and in public engagements against not only the use of DEI in higher education but against the way Democrats and others were framing SB1 on the political left in Ohio.
Williams and Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and Ohio House Workforce and Higher Education Committee Chairman Tom Young (R-Washington Twp) were invited to join the Governor at the bill’s signing. The governor’s staff photographed the group together, and that photo was posted on the governor's official website for posterity.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, while reporting on the historic and controversial nature of the bill and its possible implications, took to social media and posted the historic photo of the signing ceremony, but did so with stark and many alarming edits; Williams was cut out of the picture altogether:
The post and edited photo ignited a firestorm of shock and distress among conservative black activists in Ohio, along with demands for a public apology coming from across the state from elected officials. The Cleveland Plain Dealer has issued no apology or explanation as of publication.
Ohio.news reached out to elected Republicans in the state for comment about this controversy.
Williams noted, “This is just another example of fake news Main Stream Media changing the facts to fit their narrative in an attempt to lie to Ohioans. I was at that event, and for the Cleveland Plain Dealer to deliberately crop me out of the photo while using it to discuss the elimination of DEI in higher education is dishonest and manipulative. I call on them to issue a public apology and correction of the public record. Ohioans deserve the truth, not carefully edited propaganda.”
Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, asked: “Why would the left-leaning media let a little thing like the facts get in the way of their racist narrative?”
Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, demanded an apology. “The utter audacity to publicly discriminate against a Black lawmaker when discussing DEI is atrocious! Rep. Williams deserves a very public apology from the Cleveland Plain Dealer without delay and without excuse.”
Rep. Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, said the oversight was deliberate the media bias.
“Legacy media is dying because they can’t resist the opportunity to spin reality. Cutting out Rep. Williams, who was an instrumental part of passing SB1, is a prime example of the never-ending spin.”
Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, also called for an apology.
“The action of The Cleveland Plain Dealer requires a public apology. Leftist outlets nationwide are more interested in their false narrative and fake news than the truth. I believe Ohioans can see through a narrative that does not promote unity but instead promotes a culture of separation and hate.”
