Indivisible, Our Revolution to protest Sheriff Jones’ Narcan stance

UPDATE @ 1:07 p.m.: The protest has been moved due to the threat of thunderstorms today, according to an organizer.

The protest has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, according to Noah Daughhetee with Indivisible OH 8.

INITIAL REPORT:

A local left-leaning organization is planning to protest Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones’ refusal to use Narcan on overdose victims.

Indivisible OH 8 “vigorously condemns” Jones’ “ridiculous refusal to use Narcan” and the group is demanding the sheriff and his office “fulfill their duty to protect human life by immediately equipping and training all officers with this life-saving drug,” according to a prepared statement from the group.

“Basically, we’re not going to use Narcan,” Jones recently told Ashleigh Banfield on HLN’s “Primetime Justice.”

Indivisible OH 8, which is teaming up with Our Revolution Butler County — the local chapter of another nationwide left-leaning group — is conducting a joint protest from 4:30 to 6 p.m. today, July 11, in front of the Hamilton Municipal Court at 345 High St.

The group said it is demanding the sheriff change his position on Narcan.

“While we recognize the extreme difficulty presented to our first responders in dealing with the opioid epidemic, we also realize the supreme failure of the war on drugs and the havoc it has wreaked in our communities,” according to a statement from Indivisible OH 8. “Our precious sisters and brothers who have fallen prey to this affliction deserve love, compassion and life-saving intervention.”

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According to the group’s statement it is signaling out the sheriff’s office, however, the Journal-News has previously reported that no officers in any Butler County police department carry Narcan, citing prompt EMS response times to incidents.

In February, Carlisle considered equipping officers with Narcan. Carlisle would join Dayton police, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Highway Patrol and Miami University’s police among area law enforcement agencies whose officers carry Narcan.