Senator Introduces “Holly’s Act” After Cincinnati Attack

Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio is proposing a bill called “Holly’s Act” following a violent incident that occurred in Cincinnati last month. A woman was brutally attacked by a group late at night on July 26th, around 3 a.m., at the busy intersection of 4th and Elm Streets.

Footage from the scene shows a large crowd turning on a few people, with one video capturing a man shouting racial slurs as violence erupted. Other videos show the male victims engaging with the crowd just before tensions escalated. In a particularly disturbing clip, the woman, identified only as “Holly,” tried to intervene but was forcefully knocked to the ground and lost consciousness.

Interestingly, only one 911 call was placed following the incident, despite the presence of over a hundred people—many of whom were either fighting or filming the altercation.

On Wednesday, Moreno held a press conference in Cincinnati, attended by city officials, FBI agents, the prospective U.S. Attorney, the police chief, and local sheriff’s deputies. He noted that the meeting began somewhat awkwardly but concluded on a constructive note. Everyone present agreed that measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event. Moreno mentioned the importance of ensuring Ohio residents can feel safe when visiting their cities.

“We’ll speak with state legislators and see what we can do, ideally with her consent, to push for ‘Holly’s Act,’” he said. He emphasized the need for judges to be more accountable and not shielded by their positions while ignoring law enforcement’s efforts.

Moreno expressed his belief that while law enforcement officers put their lives at risk daily, judges often undermine their hard work by giving lenient sentences. “I think, honestly, this should qualify as an attempted murder rather than just a brawl,” he remarked, mentioning that the accused had a long criminal record. “We cannot allow repeat offenders to roam freely in Ohio’s streets.”

Holly, standing beside Moreno, is focusing on advocating for reform. “I want to talk about how we can change things moving forward—how to prevent this from happening to anyone else,” she urged. “We need more police presence and justice system reforms to ensure that violent offenders are detained properly.”

She reflected on the severity of her situation, noting that the individual who could have severely harmed her should have never been back on the streets. “He had a lengthy history, and it’s truly disheartening to think of how many others might have suffered because of him,” she added.

Holly also expressed concern over the public’s desensitization to violence, suggesting there should be a law that penalizes those who fail to call for help in emergencies. “It’s essential that we all look out for each other,” she said emphatically.

A reporter questioned Holly about whether she thought she might not survive that night. “Honestly, it felt like I wouldn’t make it,” she confessed, still processing her near-death experience.

During the press event, Moreno proposed the idea of offering bonuses to police officers as a way to boost staffing. He underscored the need for better police presence and technology to deter future incidents like the one that occurred on July 26th. Yet, he also stressed the responsibility of bystanders to report emergencies promptly, criticizing the trend of people opting to film rather than intervene or call for help.

Regarding the ongoing investigation, several individuals have been charged in connection with the violent assaults, including Dominique Kittle, Montianne Meriweather, Jermaine Matthews, Dequila Vernon, Aisha Devaux, and Patrick Rosemond. Rosemond was apprehended in Georgia and is facing multiple charges, including felony assault, while awaiting extradition back to Ohio.

As this case unfolds, the focus remains on ensuring such incidents don’t occur again and that victims like Holly receive the justice they deserve.