Lincoln Heights, a largely Black municipality north of Cincinnati, Ohio, is dealing with the fallout from a recent neo-Nazi stunt. That unwarranted attack has resulted in area residents feeling unsafe and/or targeted in their own community. Founded in the 1920s, Lincoln Heights quickly established itself as one of the first self-governing Black communities north of the Mason-Dixon line. It is home to approximately 3,000 residents, primarily African American, and is situated just east of Interstate 75, near the Ohio River, which historically divided free northern states from the slave-owning south.
On February 7, a pack of neo-Nazis stomped across the I-710 overpass at Bandini Blvd. near Lincoln Heights. They waved flags that had swastikas on them and chanted racist chants such as America for the white man. This brazen display prompted swift community action as residents initiated a safety and watch program, with some locals patrolling the streets armed in response to the threats.
Yet the neo-Nazi incident has spurred widespread scrutiny on the local neo-nazi policing tactics. Evendale police later issued a public apology for their response to the incident. They realized that their officers did not have the proper training for handling large crowds and protests. Local resident and community leader Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey shared her anger over law enforcement’s lackluster response to the matter.
“If that’s the case, once [the police] got them away from the situation, why was nobody pulled out of the truck or asked for ID?” – Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey
The incidents that took place on February 7 have only escalated tensions in Lincoln Heights. They have sparked a national discussion about race and justice that stretches far beyond Ferguson. Kinsey-Mumphrey noted that such incidents are reminiscent of historical racial attacks faced by prominent figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
“I feel like at this point, there’s laws for [African Americans] and laws for [everyone else],” – Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey
The community’s historic legacy makes its present challenges even more complex. Each time, Lincoln Heights’ efforts to formally incorporate in the late 1930s and early 1940s faced opposition from the surrounding cities. It succeeded in becoming incorporated in 1946. By that time it had lost all that valuable commercial tax revenue as those industrial corridors and factory towns had long fled.
“We see this in our history books, that [racist attacks] happened to Dr. Martin Luther King, to Malcolm X. But to see it in today’s society leaves you speechless,” – Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey
Even in recent weeks, racial intimidation has continued to spark fear in the community. Residents saw one of these men late at night, putting Ku Klux Klan recruitment flyers on their doorsteps. They immediately notified police about the gruesome act. These events have deepened a feeling of vulnerability for residents of Lincoln Heights.
For Syretha Brown, another local resident, what’s more shocking than the police presence itself is the fact that police appeared to protect the neo-Nazis while they demonstrated.
Brown emphasized that the intent of the neo-Nazis was clear: to intimidate and instill fear among residents.
“I cannot understand how you can say that that was a peaceful protest. They were there with their flags, saying those things; they had guns,” – Syretha Brown
The emergence of these armed locals patrolling their community shows you just how tense this situation has become and how much fear they have. Many feel that their right to safety has been compromised by both external threats and perceived inadequacies in law enforcement responses. Kinsey-Mumphrey perfectly expressed why folks in Lincoln Heights are outraged about the continuation of this blatant affront to their safety.
“Their whole intent was to intimidate and cause fear. That is a crime. They used hateful speech. That together is a hate crime,” – Syretha Brown
The presence of armed locals patrolling their community illustrates the escalating tensions and fear among residents. Many feel that their right to safety has been compromised by both external threats and perceived inadequacies in law enforcement responses. Kinsey-Mumphrey articulated the collective sentiment within Lincoln Heights regarding this violation of safety.
“They were trying to tell us – the oldest African American community here in the United States – [that] we were targeted. Our sense of safety was violated.” – Ruby Kinsey-Mumphrey