Members of the Cincinnati, Ohio, City Council are pushing back against comments made by Councillor Victoria Parks regarding victims of a recent violent altercation.
After viewing footage of the incident, Parks stated, “They begged for the assault! I am grateful for the entire story.”
Her remarks drew significant backlash, prompting Parks to express that she felt devastated upon initially observing the fight. However, she later suggested that there was “something more in the story.”
Parks noted that she believes the assaulted individuals were “upset” about the altercation. Reports from local journalists indicated that some video showed white individuals striking black individuals.
Parks stated, “I wrote what I wrote because I believe in freedom of speech in this country, but that doesn’t mean I can just scream ‘fire’ in a crowded theater,” referencing the slap that instigated the conflict.
A local reporter questioned Parks about her comments implying that the victims deserved their beating, asking, “Does anyone deserve such a beat?”
Parks clarified, “I say this, no one deserves assault. There are always consequences for inappropriate behavior, and that’s what my post means.” A video showcased various brawls occurring on Elm and Force Streets.
While discussing one victim, she remarked, “I’m not celebrating the fact that he was beaten, but I also understand why he was beaten. I think he did too. Sorry, but there was an action and reaction, and it seemed he was looking for trouble.”
Parks insisted that she was not defending violence but added, “There are conversations that black parents have with their children regarding how to handle certain life situations. If you encounter trouble first, it can all boil down to frustration and the historical fears experienced through generations.” She suggested this context influenced what happened during the incident on a recent Friday night.
One of the brawl victims, who suffered a severe facial injury, shared a video expressing gratitude for community support as she recovers. In the clip, she describes experiencing “very bad brain trauma” but also feels intimidated about the situation.
Authorities reported that a fifth suspect was arrested related to the brawl. The individual was identified as 38-year-old Patrick Rosemond and was taken into custody by the FBI in Fulton County, Georgia.
Other suspects have been named as Jermaine Matthews, Dominic Kettle, Montierness Merriweather, and Dequila Vernon.
Local reports indicate that Rosemond is the individual accused of striking the victim, Holly.
