Kirsten Hill addresses rally role

Ohio Board of Education member says she condemns acts of violence by ‘small minority’

Ohio Board of Education member Kirsten Hill is responding to criticism for her role in organizing a bus trip to the Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C.

Hill, of Amherst, has denounced the violence at the U.S. Capitol that resulted in five deaths, including a Capitol police officer, several people injured and many arrested.

In a statement, Hill said she traveled to Washington as a private citizen along with likeminded individuals to exercise her First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble.

“My participation at the event consisted of listening to President Trump’s speech, walking to the Capitol, praying at a street corner along the National Mall and waving my American flag in support of our great country,” she said.

Hill condemned the violence at the Capitol.

“Unfortunately, there was a small minority of individuals who appear to have broken the law by vandalizing the Capitol building and personal property,” she said.

“I condemn any acts of violence or damage that may have been done by any individuals or groups regardless of their motives

or deeply held convictions.

“It is, of course, best to wait for official investigations to be completed before assigning absolute responsibility for any lawlessness.”

In the statement, Hill repeated the unsubstantiated claims that there was “significant voter fraud” in the Nov. 3 election.

Arguments suggesting the presidential election was fraudulent have been overwhelmingly rejected in state and federal courts.

Hill represents District 2 on the state Board of Education.

She is chairwoman of Totally

Engaged Americans of Lorain County, which arranged the bus trip from Elyria to Washington to attend the rally on the day U.S. Congress formally certified the election results and President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

Hill was listed as the coordinator for the Elyria-based contingent on other websites urging Ohioans to go to the District of Columbia for the event.

The Ohio Education Association

and state elected officials called for Hill to provide more details for her reported involvement in the events of the day which culminated in the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, said he was deeply disturbed to learn that a member of the state Board of Education may have had a hand in organizing the rally aimed at overturning legitimate election results.

“It is, of course, best to wait for official investigations to be completed before assigning absolute responsibility for any lawlessness.” — Ohio Board of Education member Kirsten Hill

Hill