This is an empty menu. Please make sure your menu has items.

513-429-2158

By Jamilah Muhammad Columbus

PUBLISHED 7:50 PM ET Oct. 06, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame inducted five new members in a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse on Thursday, including an influential leader from Cincinnati. 


What You Need To Know

The Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame began inducting members in 2009
This year’s class of five was inducted on Thursday at the Statehouse
Cincinnati activist Iris Roley was one of the five inducted

Iris Roley has been an agent for change in Cincinnati for decades. Her induction comes more than 20 years after playing an integral role in launching the Black United Front, otherwise known as B.U.F.

Her induction this year acknowledged her efforts to improve police relations in her community.

“Changing how police actually police,” said Roley of her efforts. “Giving them a different set of tools to use so that everyone is treated with fairness, there is accountability and transparency.”  

In 2002, a federal district court established the city’s collaborative agreement with the B.U.F. and the ACLU. That agreement helped establish an independent board for citizen complaints, police problem-solving approaches, and data collection on police action.

Roley said the change has been a constant during her years as an activist. 

“You have to acknowledge the incremental change and you have to understand that change can come and sometimes it’s slow but you must recognize that change,” said Roley. 

Now, as a Hall of Famer, she hopes her work will inspire others to make a change in their communities.

“A little ol’ person from Cincinnati can be just as great and do wonderful things to help change society, especially when people are looking for hopeful things to hold on to and to build on,” said Roley. 

Joining Roley in the Hall of Fame’s 13th class are Bishop Timothy J. Clarke, Dorothy O. Jackson, John W.E. Bowen III, and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

Every inductee was honored with a plaque and will have their names displayed on a Civil Rights Hall of Fame banner in the Statehouse.

View the full article