By William Coffman, Opinions and Editorials Editor

Residents in Evendale and Lincoln Heights are still searching for answers after a group of neo-Nazis gathered earlier this month on Feb 7, by an Interstate 75 overpass, draping flags with swastikas, and white supremacist imagery. While wearing masks and dark clothing to hide their identities. Residents of the area confronted the group, and the neo-Nazis departed the scene in a U-Haul truck. 

Lincoln Heights has hosted multiple town halls to explore the circumstances surrounding the incident, and what steps should be taken next. This process comes as the community still grapples with the event.  With photographic evidence showing at least one member was armed at the scene.

Questions have been asked about law enforcement’s response to the incident, with criticism coming from both residents and county officials. 

“Police became aware of ‘unannounced protest activity’ around 2 p.m. on Friday on Vision Way overlooking Interstate 75,” a news release from the Evendale Police Department stated. The department also informed the public that there was no application for a permit or contact with the department by the group regarding their planned rally. 

Some criticism against law enforcement stems from the fact that no arrests were made during the incident. 

“The protest, while very offensive, was not unlawful,” authorities said. 

The area of Lincoln Heights was the first African-American self governing comunity north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The lack of arrests has prompted a feeling of a double standard among residents. 

“Their statements talk about how hate has no place here, but no justice was served. These are terrorists we’re talking about,” resident Kachara Talbert told CNN.  

“Messages of hate like this have no place in our region. It was shocking and disgusting to see swastikas displayed in Evendale today. This is not what we stand for, and it will never be what we stand for,” Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval said on X, shortly after the incident.

 “When I see Nazis advocating for an ideology that calls for the violent extermination of races, shouting racial epithets while openly carrying AR-15s, while also concealing their identity, that strikes me as something the city should absolutely discourage and try to regulate against.” Mayor Pureval said on WVXU. 

Last October, a similar incident occurred in Columbus when neo-Nazis marched with flags identical to the ones hung on the overpass in Cincinnati. Like the rally here, no arrests were made in Columbus after the rally, although political figures strongly condemned the rally. 

“There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism or violence, and we must denounce it wherever we see it,” Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine said after the rally in Columbus.