(a) No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with any of the following:
(1) Any person because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, handicap, as defined in that section, or ancestry and because that person is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any housing accommodations, or applying for or participating in any service, organization or facility relating to the business of selling or renting housing accommodations;
(2) Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate that person or any other person or any class of persons from doing either of the following:
A. Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, handicap, as defined in that section, or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (a)(1) hereof;
B. Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate.
(3) Any person because that person is or has been, or in order to discourage that person or any other person from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4112.01, national origin, handicap, as defined in that section, or ancestry, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in paragraph (a)(1) hereof, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate.
(b) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be subject to the penalty provided in Section 698.02.
(ORC 2927.03)