A majority-Black town starts armed protection group after neo-Nazi rally
The Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch program started shortly after a neo-Nazi group waving swastika flags and shouting racial slurs demonstrated on the edge of this majority-Black community outside of Cincinnati.
LINCOLN HEIGHTS, Ohio — Nearly every morning for the last month, Jay has been waking up before sunrise to drive around the streets of Lincoln Heights, patrolling neighborhood bus stops to make sure children are getting to school safely.
“We have a very tight community, so all of our kids, they know us,” he said.
But for anyone outside the community, Jay’s presence might be a mystery. He wears a face covering along with a tactical vest, and Jay is not his real name, which he asked not to use to prevent harassment from hate groups.
An armed volunteer for the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program stands guard near a community center.NBC NewsHe’s a member of the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch program, an initiative that started shortly after Feb. 7, when a neo-Nazi group waving swastika flags and shouting racial slurs demonstrated on a highway overpass just on the edge of this majority-Black community about 30 minutes north of Cincinnati.
Officers from Evendale, which borders Lincoln Heights, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office both responded that day. No arrests were made, and Evendale police officers did not take down any names or identifying information from members of the neo-Nazi group, according to the mayor’s office. The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office is currently investigating the incident to see if criminal charges could be filed.
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