LINCOLN HEIGHTS, Ohio – In response to a recent neo-Nazi demonstration, residents of Lincoln Heights, a historically Black town, have launched an armed neighborhood safety patrol to protect their community from future racist threats.
A community under siege
On Feb. 7, a group of neo-Nazis gathered on a highway overpass near Lincoln Heights, waving swastika flags and shouting racial slurs. The demonstrators also held a sign reading “America for the White Man.” Law enforcement officers from nearby Evendale and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene but made no arrests and did not collect identifying information on the participants.
For many Lincoln Heights residents, the police response was as disturbing as the rally itself. Daronce Daniels, a spokesperson for the newly formed Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, said the lack of arrests confirmed fears that law enforcement would not intervene if another hate group targeted their town.
“They’ve been very clear that if it happens again, they’ll allow it to happen again,” Daniels said.
Armed patrols take action
In the wake of the rally, community members mobilized to create their own security force. The Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, which grew out of the existing Heights Movement, now includes armed volunteers patrolling key areas of town. The group’s focus is to deter future threats and ensure the safety of residents, especially schoolchildren.
One volunteer, who asked to be identified only as Jay, has been patrolling neighborhood bus stops every morning to watch over children walking to school. Wearing a tactical vest and face covering, Jay takes extra precautions to protect his identity from white supremacist groups.
“We have a very tight community, so all of our kids, they know us,” he said.
Ohio’s open carry laws allow armed defense
Ohio law permits open carry of firearms without a permit, meaning residents who legally own guns can carry them in public. Safety and Watch volunteers have used this right to organize community patrols, including standing guard near the local elementary school.
Yard signs reading “We Support Lincoln Heights Safety & Watch” have popped up throughout the town as residents rally behind the initiative.
“I’ve never felt safer as a Black man in my community than I have right now,” Daniels said. “These are my friends. These are my cousins, my brothers, my sisters, my aunties.”
The history behind Lincoln Heights’ self-defense movement
Founded in 1923, Lincoln Heights was the first all-Black, self-governing city north of the Mason-Dixon Line. However, the town has faced systemic neglect and underfunding for decades. In 2014, its police department was disbanded, leaving law enforcement duties to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office—a move that many residents believe has left them vulnerable.
The town’s history of self-reliance and community defense now plays a crucial role in the decision to take safety into their own hands.
“It’s something that our grandfathers and our great-grandmothers started,” said one anonymous volunteer. “We’re going to make sure that history stays intact.”
Local officials warn of potential risks
While many in Lincoln Heights support the Safety and Watch Program, some officials have raised concerns about possible confrontations. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey is calling for new legislation to ban masks while openly carrying firearms, arguing that such a law would have given her officers more authority to intervene during the neo-Nazi rally.
She also warned that armed patrols, while legal, could lead to dangerous conflicts with hate groups or law enforcement.
“They feel they need to arm their residents, and they’re allowed to,” McGuffey said. “At some point, we are going to likely face a very dangerous situation.”
Residents stand firm
Despite concerns, Lincoln Heights residents remain committed to protecting their town and its legacy. Local business owner Eric Ruffin, who was harassed by neo-Nazis while driving home, says he supports the community patrols—even though he wishes they weren’t necessary.
“What I don’t understand is how I can be standing here in America in 2025, and somebody can walk up to my window with a swastika, have guns, call me the N-word—and law enforcement just watches,” Ruffin said.
For others, the program is about more than safety—it’s about reclaiming the right to exist without fear.
“I feel like it’s more secure now,” said Lincoln Heights resident Chantelle Phillips. “I know my son can walk home and be OK.”
A call to action
The Safety and Watch Program is not just about protecting residents—it’s a symbol of resistance and resilience. While local officials debate policy changes, Lincoln Heights has sent a clear message:
This community will not be intimidated.