In Lincoln Heights, Ohio, fear has turned into action. A quiet, historically Black community just north of Cincinnati has launched its own armed neighborhood safety program after a neo-Nazi demonstration on a nearby overpass rattled residents and exposed what many say is a troubling lack of police protection.
Every morning before sunrise, a man who goes by “Jay” gears up in tactical gear and a face covering to patrol local school bus stops. Like many in his neighborhood, Jay doesn’t want his real name made public—he fears retaliation from hate groups. But his mission is clear: protect the children and reassure the community.
Jay is one of many volunteers in the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch program, which formed in response to a Feb. 7 neo-Nazi protest that took place at the border of Lincoln Heights. The demonstrators, armed and waving swastika flags, shouted racial slurs from a highway overpass in broad daylight. Despite the intensity of the incident, no arrests were made, and law enforcement officers didn’t collect IDs or detain any demonstrators.
That lack of action stunned many residents.
A History of Underservice and a New Era of Vigilance
Lincoln Heights has a proud legacy—it was founded in 1923 by Black families migrating from the South and became the first African American self-governing community north of the Mason-Dixon Line. But it’s also a place many say has been long neglected. In 2014, its police department was disbanded, placing the village under the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
The Feb. 7 rally and what residents perceived as an insufficient police response pushed locals to act.
“They’ve made it clear that if it happens again, they’ll let it happen again,” said Daronce Daniels, spokesperson for the new safety initiative. “That’s unacceptable to us.”
Daniels and other members of a community empowerment group called The Heights Movement quickly organized volunteers—some of whom previously mentored youth—to begin armed neighborhood patrols. Ohio law allows for open carry without a permit, and the volunteers are within their rights.
“I’ve never felt safer as a Black man in my community than I have right now,” Daniels said.
Mixed Reactions, But Strong Support at Home
Some locals were caught in the chaos of the original demonstration. Business owner Eric Ruffin says he was approached by the neo-Nazi group while sitting in his car. The moment haunts him—and motivates him.
“It’s 2025, and someone can walk up to my window with a swastika, armed, yelling slurs—and the police just watch?” Ruffin said. “That’s not the America I believe in.”
Despite his frustration, Ruffin says he still supports law enforcement in principle. But he sees the community patrol as necessary in the absence of real protection.
Signs reading “We Support Lincoln Heights Safety & Watch” now dot yards throughout the village. Volunteers in tactical gear wave to neighbors on school mornings. One parent, Chantelle Phillips, said she trusts the community group more than the sheriff’s office.
“I know my son can walk home and be OK now,” she said.
Law Enforcement Responds
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey defended her department’s actions during the protest but acknowledged the growing tension.
She’s now urging the Ohio legislature to pass a law that would ban open carry while wearing a mask for intimidation—a move that could have enabled her officers to make arrests at the February demonstration.
“At some point, this could turn dangerous,” McGuffey said. “We don’t know who’s armed, who’s trained, who’s just scared. We need legislative support to handle these situations better.”
An Unbiased Opinion: Navigating the Line Between Protection and Escalation
The situation unfolding in Lincoln Heights is a reflection of a larger, national challenge: What happens when citizens feel law enforcement can’t or won’t protect them?
On one hand, the community’s response is a powerful display of unity, empowerment, and self-determination. In the face of fear, residents didn’t hide—they organized, stood up for their kids, and leaned on each other.
On the other, arming civilians, even with the best intentions, carries risks. The potential for misunderstanding or confrontation is real—especially in emotionally charged situations. Law enforcement’s fear of escalation is not unfounded.
This isn’t just about one neighborhood. It’s about how we, as a society, balance public safety, civil liberties, and community trust. When institutions fall short, people will find ways to protect themselves. Whether that’s a sign of progress or a symptom of a deeper failure remains up for debate.
