Tensions are high in Lincoln Heights, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, as masked armed residents have taken to patrolling the streets after a neo-Nazi rally earlier this month. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, these armed patrols are doing more than just watching over the neighborhood, as their presence has led to confrontations with locals.
In one case, Jim Meister, a local business owner, said that he was threatened by one of the men who pointed a rifle at him. Meister had called 911 after noticing a car parked in an abandoned lot next to his business. When he approached the vehicle, three men confronted him, claiming they were there to protect Lincoln Heights. After a tense argument about the lot’s ownership, one of the men allegedly aimed a rifle at Meister. Police later confirmed Meister’s ownership, and he allowed the men to stay the night, though they eventually set up a tent on the property.
The armed patrols are a direct response to the neo-Nazi demonstration that took place on February 7 at the I-75 overpass near Lincoln Heights. Since then, several residents have called 911 after encountering these armed individuals. One resident, Daniel Jacobs, said he was forced to leave the neighborhood after a group of armed men blocked his car. Another caller reported seeing five armed men standing at a street corner, some of whom were stopping drivers in the Wendy’s drive-thru to talk to them. The Wendy’s manager confirmed the interactions but didn’t give more details.
The actions of these armed civilians have raised concerns, with some residents feeling unsafe. A reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer also had a run-in with the patrols but was allowed to pass after showing their media credentials.
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said she was unaware of the armed patrols stopping cars and emphasized that such actions were not supported by her office. “We do not want to create neighborhood militias,” she said, adding that it could feed into the tactics used by the neo-Nazi group.
Despite repeated complaints, some residents, like Jacobs, feel their safety concerns aren’t being taken seriously by local authorities. Jacobs said, “I feel as though the police are hoping this will go away by not doing anything with it.”
Many locals fear that the neo-Nazis could return and have started patrolling their own streets as a result. At a recent town hall, residents expressed concerns about inadequate protection from law enforcement, fueling a sense of unease in the neighborhood.
