Protests in Cincinnati Lead to Arrests
In Cincinnati, police have taken at least 13 individuals into custody, including two journalists, after demonstrators obstructed a two-lane bridge that crosses the Ohio River. The protests center around the immigration detention of a former hospital pastor.
Among those arrested were reporters and photo interns from CityBeat, a local news and entertainment outlet, who were covering the protests at a courthouse in Kentucky on Friday morning.
This year, other journalists have also faced arrests and injuries while reporting on protests across the U.S. For example, over two dozen were hurt while covering protests in response to an immigrant raid in Los Angeles.
A Spanish-speaking journalist, Mario Guevara, was arrested in June for covering a No-Kings protest near Atlanta. Initially, he was accused of illegal assembly, but the charges were later dropped. Unfortunately, Guevara is still detained at the South Georgia Immigration Detention Center, facing potential deportation despite having work authorization, according to his lawyer.
Footage from the Cincinnati protests revealed heated moments, including police officers striking demonstrators as they attempted to subdue them.
Protesters had taken to the Roebling Bridge, connecting Cincinnati and Kentucky, with videos showing a black SUV slowly driving through the crowd, as some individuals were seen pressing against the vehicle.
Covington police stated that those arrested resisted orders to disperse. They added that their officers faced threats while trying to engage with the protest organizers.
The charges against the arrestees include rioting, failure to disperse, and obstructing emergency services, among others.
While Covington Police affirmed their commitment to supporting peaceful assembly, they emphasized that threatening officers and obstructing vital infrastructure, like major bridges, presents risks for everyone involved.
CityBeat’s editor noted that Madeline Fening and photo intern Lucas Griffith are facing felony riot charges, among others.
A judge has set a bond of $2,500 for each person arrested during this incident.
The protests were aimed at supporting Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant and former pastor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who was detained after a routine check-in with ICE representatives last week.
Protesters gathered in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, marching across the bridge with a banner reading, “Build a bridge, not a wall.”
Covington Police reiterated their stance, acknowledging the public’s right to peaceful expression while also stressing the importance of maintaining safety and order.
