Knock on doors with Ground Truth in Belmont County, Ohio!

Show solidarity with fellow progressive activists in rural Ohio! On July 18th, two Ground Truth canvassers in Belmont County, OH, were surrounded by 4 police cars. They were ordered to cease and desist from canvassing or face arrest for “Soliciting and Creating a Public Nuisance.” Of course, political canvassing door to door is constitutionally protected free speech. No permit or fee can be required, and it is definitely not grounds for arrest. One of the canvassers who was stopped was a Latino naturalized citizen, and racial profiling appeared to play a part. We’re working with local candidates and activists, the ACLU, the County, the City, and the Police Department to make sure every area officer understands our rights and protect them. We remain focused on deep canvassing in Eastern Ohio and listening to our neighbors’ concerns. We are determined to strengthen voter participation through exercising our constitutional civil rights. We do not seek to escalate this situation. We are building mutual trust and respect with our neighbors. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: The best thing you can do to help is to sign up for deep canvassing shifts with us in Belmont County, OH! We need folks now more than ever to stand in solidarity with us! Join Swing Left for a Ground Truth canvass—designed to help Democrats rebuild trust and win back power in the Midterms and beyond. We’re launching an [innovative new program](https://ourgroundtruth.org) that will revolutionize how we connect with voters and potential voters at their doors. At this canvass, we’ll: - Knock on **every door** in the neighborhood, not just the same voters campaigns usually talk to. - Have real conversations that **listen deeply** to voters’ concerns. - Gather rich insights for campaigns, so they can be responsive to voters’ needs and smarter with their messaging, targeting, and outreach. Don’t worry if it’s your first time canvassing—training, materials, and support are all provided. Just bring comfortable shoes,