State and city leaders calling for voter fraud billboards to come down; say it's voter suppression

CLEVELAND - Billboard voter fraud ads warning of jail time posted around black community in Cleveland has some state and city leaders, along with residents, in angst calling for the huge signs to come down.

Ohio State Senator Nina Turner was joined by Cleveland City Council members, Phyllis Cleveland and Mamie Mitchell Thursday during a news conference to protest the signs being posted through out the community. The leaders said the signs send a strong message of intimidation to minority voters, students and felons who have served time and may not know their rights.

State Senator Nina Turner said these signs have only been posted in areas where blacks, hispanics, and the poor live. She said she believes they're meant to intimidate voters, especially ex-felons, who may not know their constitutional rights to vote amid confusion over new voting laws.

"This billboard is nothing but a symbol of pure, unadulterated voter suppression to target the African American community, a community that is poor on the heels of one of the most important elections of our lifetime absolutely makes no sense," said Senator Turner.

Other grass roots organizations have also called for the signs to be taken down.

A Clear Channel spokesman said the billboard ads were paid for by a private family foundation from out of state. He said they weren't meant to attack any individual or group; nor do they represent the views of Clear Channel in any way.

Clear Channel will work with Cleveland City Council Woman Phyllis Cleveland to erect "Get Out The Vote" billboard ads in response to the negative fallout behind the voter fraud billboard ads.