A Community’s Stand for Safety: The Lincoln Heights Story

Introduction: A Community’s Resilience in the Face of Hate

In the small, predominantly Black community of Lincoln Heights, Ohio, resilience and unity are woven into the fabric of everyday life. Nestled about 30 minutes north of Cincinnati, this historic town has faced its fair share of challenges, including a recent incident that shocked its residents and galvanized them into action. On February 7, a neo-Nazi group demonstrated on a highway overpass at the edge of the community, waving swastika flags and shouting racial slurs. While law enforcement responded, their handling of the situation left many residents feeling vulnerable and unprotected. This incident became the catalyst for the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, a grassroots initiative led by armed volunteers who patrol the streets to ensure the safety of their neighbors, especially children heading to school. For residents like Jay, a volunteer with the program, this effort is not just about security—it’s about reclaiming a sense of safety and trust in a community that has often felt overlooked.

The Incident That Sparked a Movement: A Neo-Nazi Demonstration and Its Aftermath

The neo-Nazi demonstration on February 7 sent shockwaves through Lincoln Heights. The group’s hateful rhetoric and intimidating presence on a bridge linking the town to neighboring Evendale left residents visibly shaken. Local business owner Eric Ruffin, who was confronted by the group while driving home from a work meeting, recalls the horrifying moment when armed neo-Nazis2032 approached his car, hurling racial slurs. “What I don’t understand,” Ruffin said, “is how I can be standing here in America in 2025, and somebody can walk up to my window with a swastika and have guns and call me the N-word, and law enforcement watch.”

The police response that day has been a point of contention. Officers from Evendale and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, but no arrests were made, and no identifying information was collected from the neo-Nazi group. The Evendale Police Department emphasized de-escalation, prioritizing the safety of everyone involved, but for many residents, this approach felt inadequate. “They’ve been very clear that if it happens again, they’ll allow it to happen again, that their hands are tied,” said Daronce Daniels, spokesperson for the Safety and Watch program. This perception of inaction by law enforcement led Daniels and others to take matters into their own hands, forming a program that has become a symbol of community empowerment.

The Formation of the Safety and Watch Program: A Community’s Response to Fear

The Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program was born out of necessity and frustration. Volunteers, many of whom are already involved in youth mentoring and community empowerment through an organization called the Heights Movement, began patrolling the streets in tactical gear and face coverings. While their presence may seem mysterious to outsiders, the volunteers are well-known within the community. “We have a very tight community, so all of our kids, they know us,” Jay explained. These armed volunteers are not only ensuring the safety of schoolchildren at bus stops but also serving as a visible reminder of the community’s commitment to protecting itself.

Ohio state law allows legal gun owners to open carry without a permit, and the volunteers are taking full advantage of this for the greater good. “I’ve never felt safer as a Black man in my community than I have right now,” Daniels said, emphasizing the sense of security and unity the program has brought. However, the need for such a program is bittersweet. “We don’t want to become what we hate,” Ruffin said. “We don’t want to become a group of people that walk around feeling like we have a reason in America to have to protect ourselves. That’s what the Nazis want.” Despite this reluctance, the program has become a necessary response to a terrifying reality, and its presence has brought comfort to many.

A Historical Context: The Legacy of Lincoln Heights and Its Fight for Safety

The village of Lincoln Heights was founded in 1923 as a refuge for Black families fleeing the racism and violence of the South. Incorporated in 1946, it became the first African American self-governing community north of the Mason-Dixon Line, a milestone in its history. However, the town has long faced challenges, including a lack of resources and support from local municipalities. Its police department was disbanded in 2014, leaving the community under the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. For many residents, the disbanding of their police force has left a lingering sense