Black Cincinnati Leaders Demand Charges Against White Man Sparking Downtown Brawl

Black community leaders and elected officials in Cincinnati are demanding that a white man caught on video slapping a Black man during a July 26 downtown brawl be charged with inciting a riot, arguing that he provoked the violent melee for which six Black individuals have already been indicted. The incident, which escalated during a music festival near Paycor Stadium, has sparked widespread protests and calls for equal legal treatment, as all current charges have been filed against Black participants, while the white man and other white individuals seen in the footage remain uncharged. Prominent figures including Senior Pastor Tracie Hunter, Reverend Damon Lynch III, State Representative Cecil Thomas, and Cincinnati City Council member Scotty Johnson have publicly criticized the investigation and prosecution as unjust and racially biased. Hunter, a former juvenile court judge, emphasized the legal grounds for charging the white man under Ohio statutes for inciting violence, while Lynch and Thomas highlighted the community's frustration and demand for accountability. City officials, including Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney, have joined the call for the white man’s arrest, citing ongoing public concern and the viral nature of the video evidence. The situation underscores broader tensions regarding race, justice, and law enforcement responses in Cincinnati.