Hilliard district files police report against Democrat Morgan Harper

On Apr 18, 2022

Mon., Mar. 28, 2022; Wilberforce, Ohio, USA; U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Morgan Harper delivers her opening statement during Ohio's U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Debate. Mandatory Credit: Joshua A. Bickel/Ohio Debate Commission

Ohio Senate candidate Morgan Harper fired back Saturday at Hilliard City Schools after the district filed a police report accusing her of trespassing to speak at a student rally in support of LGBTQ rights.

On Thursday afternoon, about 150 students at Hilliard Darby High School walked out of class in protest of House Bill 616, which aims to ban discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity until fourth grade in all public and most private schools.

Following an email invitation from student organizers Harper made a 15-minute appearance at the school stadium, where she gave a brief speech in support of the walkout, she said during a Saturday news conference at her Downtown office.

Harper called the police report a waste of resources and a political attempt to stifle student speech.

“It’s a frivolous and outrageous attempt to try to distract people from the real issue, which is that HB 616 is a threat to our kids and our schools,” she told The Dispatch. “It could very much have a chilling effect on students feeling comfortable speaking out or even adults.”

Ohio House Bill 616: Ohio Republicans introduce House Bill 616, their version of Florida’s so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

Ohio House Bill 616: ‘We need to show how much we’re against this’: Ohioans brave weather to protest HB 616

But Hilliard City Schools, claiming administrators did not invite the progressive Democrat from Columbus, filed a report with the Hilliard Division of Police over what it called unauthorized entry. The district said it also lodged a complaint against Harper with the Ohio Elections Commission and banned her from any school property.

“It is well known that for any visitor, entering school grounds and engaging with students requires permission from building or district administrators,” Hilliard City Schools said in an email statement to The Dispatch. “When that policy is disregarded, it is our responsibility to address it.”

Harper will face U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, of Howland Township outside Youngstown, and tech executive Traci Johnson, of Columbus, in the May 3 Democratic primary for the chance to flip the seat held by retiring Sen. Rob Portman. The winner will likely face a well-funded Republican opponent and an electorate that’s become increasingly conservative.

Although Harper did not directly communicate with school officials, she said student organizers informed her that the school was aware of her attendance. She said she briefly appeared at the event without interacting with or being approached by any school officials.

Harper called the police report a waste of resources and a political attempt to stifle student speech.

Student organizers spoke at Saturday news conference in support of Harper

Owen and Riley, two student organizers at Darby High who asked that their full names not be used for fear of retaliation and harassment, also attended Saturday’s news conference.

They told The Dispatch thathey invited a number of politicians to the rally, but Harper was the only one who agreed to show up. They said they notified the vice principal and other school officials about Harper’s appearance ahead of time and no one objected.

Owen and Riley said the school district’s actions surprised them. They said the decision to file a police report might be a result of multiple complaints from conservative parents who did not approve of the walkout.

“After this rally took place, we were expecting a wave of hate, and we certainly got it,” Owen said. “We’ve been called wicked, evil, uneducated sinners, idiots, demons and several other slurs I cannot say. … All the hate we were receiving just goes to show that LGBTQ+ youth need more support from people like Morgan Harper.”

Ohio House Bill 616: Ohio business organizations, officials say House Bill 616 could stifle economic growth

Hilliard City Schools said in the email statement that it “found no evidence that the adult who entered the walkout had the necessary and appropriate permission to do so” after extensive conversations with Darby High School principals and district leaders.

“Our concern is unrelated to the topic of the walkout or any political campaign, but a simple one of school security,” the statement said. “We are currently evaluating our processes and initiating an independent investigating of this situation.”

Stacie Raterman, director of communication, did not respond to The Dispatch’s inquiry regarding the students’ recount of the event.

When asked whether she would do anything differently when considering future speaker events at local schools, Harper said her focus will always be doing what she can to protect and stand up for young people.

“I don’t want another generation of kids to have to go through what I saw my friends go through in the ’90s of having to hide who they are, being subject to bullying, teachers who are not able to be open about the fact that they’re gay,” Harper said. “What we need from our political leadership is not creating problems but actually solving them.”