One of the 10 billboards, featuring an ominous gavel, appeared last week at the corner of East 35^th and Community College Avenue on Cleveland’s eastside.  Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland immediately protested.  But she says the signs also have led to a stepped-up effort to educate residents, including telling them they can vote even if they’ve been convicted of a felony. And during a rally under the billboard, she said she’s also talked with Clear Channel, the company that owns the signs.

Free “positive message” billboards offered                                              

“I have had some opening conversations with Clear Channel, and they’re offering free billboards to put a more positive message or antidote. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas said the answer to bad speech is good speech, so we’re going to explore that opportunity. And let people know voting is a right not a crime.”

Protesters still want original signs torn down

Cleveland gave no details, but says the company has told her the billboards could be up as early as next week. Clear Channel officials have not answered to questions about the free billboard offer. But it has said a private family foundation contracted for the original billboards, and, contrary to its usual practice, the contract included a guarantee of anonymity for the group. Meanwhile, protesters under the sign are considering other actions.

“We want that sign taken down, you will not win this election with an unconstitutional gesture designed to disenfranchise poor people, black people, and if you don’t take it down we’ll take it down for you.”

State Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland attended the rally. Even if there is an offer of free billboards, she says the voter-fraud signs should still come down. Turner says the billboards are part of the tenor of this election.

“In the state of Ohio ex-offenders have the right to vote, but what they’re doing is trying to confuse voters. So between signs like this and a Secretary of State who’s trying to erode early voting we get this kind of stuff. We know that most African Americans, especially in Cuyahoga County, participate in early in person voting. The types of policies coming from the Republican Party has created this type of environment and made people like this believe it’s okay to prey on black and poor and Hispanic communities.”

Same billboards popping up in other cities