On July 17th, a vigil was called by local organizers to call attention to the detention of Imam Ayman, a local clergy member detained by President Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the vigil, citizens peacefully protested at Roebling Bridge. The protest remained peaceful throughout.
Around 8:30 PM, the Covington Police Department (CPD) arrived in force, with a video captured from the scene showing a response of at least 15 squad cars for a small, peaceful protest. Police ordered protesters to disperse, and as protesters were in the middle of complying, CPD violently broke up the protest, dramatically escalating what had been a peaceful protest into a police attack on protesters. CPD officers were caught on camera firing rubber bullets at point-blank range against peaceful protesters, and arresting those who had complied with the order to disperse. Some of those arrested were brutally beaten, with multiple protesters requiring medical treatment at a nearby hospital. At least one journalist was also arrested by police despite continually signaling their status as a member of the press.
DSA Metro Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky strongly condemns the plain and obvious brutality deployed against this peaceful protest. Through their actions last night the Covington Police Department showed contempt for a peaceful vigil and demonstrated an active desire to cause harm under the cover of “keeping the peace”. These shocking acts are an echo of Donald Trump’s authoritarian streak with the very violence protesters came out peacefully to oppose; one big tyrant emboldens many little ones. This moment along with the police-assisted terror campaign of ICE demonstrates that Americans’ civil rights are limited more and more every day. Given this violent crackdown against peaceful protesters, we call on the Covington authorities to dismiss any and all charges against those arrested at the protest.