Police Brutalize Peaceful Marchers Opposing ICE and Immigration Detention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CINCINNATI, OH — A peaceful community march held Thursday evening on the Roebling Suspension Bridge opposing the onslaught of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) abductions and detentions was violently disrupted by Covington Police, who deployed tasers, beat demonstrators, and arrested at least 13 individuals, including two journalists.
The evening began with a nonviolent vigil organized by local community groups and faith leaders to show solidarity with Imam Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant and former chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The gathering brought together people of all backgrounds in a spirit of love, unity, and shared commitment to justice.
After the prayer vigil concluded, autonomous individual marchers took to the Roebling Bridge and invited others to join them in a collective display of community unity. The march remained peaceful and orderly, yet was met with immediate and unprovoked escalation by Covington Police. Videos and eyewitness accounts confirm that officers used tasers, fired less-than-lethal rounds, and beat demonstrators—many of whom were faith leaders, nonprofit organizers, and young community members. At least 13 people were arrested, including two journalists clearly identified as members of the press. At least one individual was hospitalized due to injuries sustained from police violence.
Community police liaisons attempted to communicate with Covington Police to mediate and were told by Covington police that they had no intention to talk, followed by the escalation that took place.
The violent police response was not an isolated incident—it is part of the same system that detains thousands of immigrants like Imam Ayman, denying them due process, tearing them from their communities, and silencing those who speak out.
The gathering was a response to the unjust detention of Imam Ayman Soliman. Despite a record of public service and no criminal history, his asylum was revoked without explanation—reflecting a broader pattern of discriminatory immigration enforcement and surveillance disproportionately targeting Muslim and immigrant communities. His detention has sparked concern from human rights advocates and faith communities across the country.
“This was a peaceful show of solidarity—and police responded with violence meant to intimidate and suppress dissent,” said Victoria Hickcox, President of YUSRA. “We are witnessing a disturbing rise in state-sanctioned brutality, where simply marching for justice can get you brutalized and jailed.”
Covington Police have since claimed they were addressing a public safety concern, yet footage and reports show officers instigating chaos and deploying force against a calm, law-abiding crowd. Many arrestees were complying with dispersal orders when they were assaulted or detained.
“This is what happens when the police see peaceful protest not as a democratic right but as a threat to be crushed,” Hickcox added. “Their role has become clear: to protect systems of power and punish those who dare to question them. But we will not be silenced.”
YUSRA stands firmly with all who put their bodies on the line for justice and will continue organizing until Ayman is free and our communities are safe from violence—whether at the hands of ICE or the police.
About YUSRA
YUSRA (Young United Souls for Revolutionary Action) is a grassroots, Muslim-led coalition committed to advancing justice, human rights, and collective liberation. Through community organizing, leadership development, and policy advocacy, YUSRA works to build power among directly impacted communities and confront systemic inequities—including immigration injustice and state violence. Rooted in faith and guided by a vision of dignity and safety for all, YUSRA seeks to create lasting structural change across Ohio and beyond.
Contact: Victoria Hickcox: victoria@yusraorganizing.org | (614) 500-3685 | www.yusraorganizing.org