Residents of Lincoln Heights neighbourhood in Ohio’s Cincinnati have rallied together following a 7 February incident involving over a dozen armed neo-Nzis waving swstika signs and hate-filled banners and yelling racial slurs. Police made no arrests, saying that while the events were disturbing, they did not constitute a violation.
In a town hall meeting following a 10 February rally, residents questioned if police truly protect them, with Lincoln Heights resident Kachara Talbert noting, ‘It’s just super unfortunate because when it comes to African Americans, you guys arrest first and ask questions later. And, I just feel like you guys didn’t do that in that moment.’
The community, also disappointed in police merely escorting away the neo-N*zis, have taken it upon themselves to protect their community by exercising their right to bear arms as stipulated by the US Constitution’s Second Amendment.
Similar incidents have occurred over the years where US police forces create a buffer for protesting white-supremacist groups and escort them away from counter-protesters. The 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, stands out as an example.
Sources:
https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2025-02-10/lincoln-heights-residents-neo-nazi-rally
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lIpFChQMXM&t=87s
https://www.propublica.org/article/police-stood-by-as-mayhem-mounted-in-charlottesville