Demonstrators protest the bombing of Gazan civilians on May 3, 2024, in downtown Kent. Jeremy Brown/The Portager

Anti-war protesters gather weekly in Kent for ceasefire in Gaza

May 6, 2024 - Staff Report ,

A small group of demonstrators have gathered weekly at 5 p.m. on Fridays in solidarity with Gazans under bombardment since October, resulting in over 30,000 civilian deaths, mostly women and children.

“This demonstration started almost three weeks ago as a result of my conversation with a Jewish Kent State student whose courage beget my own courage,” said Jen Case, a Kent resident who has helped to organize the protests.

“All who desire peace are welcome. Antisemitism or violence in any form is not welcome. We aim to be grounded in our togetherness, in our faiths and spirituality, and in song,” Case said in a press release.

Staff Report

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Events

County roundup: Atwater requests solar and wind farm ban; Mogadore, Randolph and Suffield news

March 9, 2026 - by Roger Gordon. - by The Portage County Board of Commissioners will hold a Special Public Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 concerning recent township board of trustees resolutions that request the board of commissioners prohibit economically significant wind farms, large wind farms and large solar farms within the townships.

Around Brimfield: Many ways to help feed your neighbors

March 2, 2026 - by Shirley Mars. - by For over 45 years, the spirit of neighborliness has been alive and well in our community, as residents wholeheartedly lent support to the Brimfield Community Cupboard and created a legacy of caring for our own.

Downtown Kent to turn into student art gallery in March

February 25, 2026 - by Adriana Gasiewski. - by While attending the 2025 Heritage Ohio Annual Conference, Lesley Sickle, marketing coordinator of Main Street Kent, learned how in Delaware, Ohio, they displayed students’ artwork at local businesses for an entire month and started thinking about how Kent could pull off something similar.