Residents of Black Lincoln Heights Take Up Arms to Defend Against Neo-Nazi Threats

"We're Not Waiting for Help!" — Armed Vigilantes Patrol Ohio Town After Hate Group Attacks

By Staff

NEW YORK, NY, February 27, 2025, 10 a.m - Lincoln Heights, Ohio – In a stunning display of community resolve, residents of the small, majority-Black suburb have taken to the streets with rifles, forming armed patrols to protect their town from hate-fueled threats.

The dramatic move comes on the heels of a shocking neo-Nazi demonstration that sent shockwaves through the peaceful community. Armed demonstrators marched just a stone's throw from Lincoln Heights Elementary School, spouting racist slurs and showcasing swastika flags while children were being released from class. Outraged locals say they won't stand for it any longer.

"You get punched, and then they come back for more," Alandes Powell, 62, a local nonprofit director, told the Washington Post. "We're fighting for our lives here."

After the February 7 march and subsequent KKK pamphlet drops around the town, Lincoln Heights residents formed the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, quickly mobilizing around 70 armed community guards. Donning masks and body armor, they have set up patrols at the borders of their town, asking anyone who wishes to enter about their intentions.

"I thought that was the most American thing we could do," Daronce Daniels, spokesman for the newly formed watch group, told the Post. "We’re protecting our homeland from these cowards!"

Lincoln Heights is a small suburb located in Hamilton County, Ohio, and is notable for being one of the oldest self-governing Black communities in the United States, established in the 1920s during a time of widespread racial discrimination. The area was initially settled by Black laborers who were largely excluded from neighboring cities like Cincinnati due to their race. The residents sought to create their own community that could operate independently, and over the years, Lincoln Heights has developed a strong sense of identity and pride among its inhabitants.

Historically, the community faced significant challenges, including a lack of basic public services such as fire and police departments, and struggle against underinvestment and neglect from local government. Despite these adversities, residents of Lincoln Heights have consistently advocated for their rights and worked to improve their living conditions.

In recent years, however, Lincoln Heights has experienced renewed challenges, including tensions related to race and safety. The community's police department was disbanded in 2014 due to financial constraints and issues of accountability, leaving residents under the protection of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. This has led to ongoing distrust and dissatisfaction among residents, particularly in dealings with law enforcement.

As racial tensions have resurfaced with the rise of extremist groups, including neo-Nazi and KKK activities, Lincoln Heights residents are finding themselves once again in a position of fighting for their community's safety. This history of self-advocacy and resilience has prompted the formation of groups like the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, as locals strive to protect their neighborhood from hate and discrimination, emphasizing their determination to safeguard their community in the face of adversity.

But not everyone is convinced that vigilantism is the answer. Some locals have reported feeling intimidated by armed patrols, with a business owner claiming one armed man pointed a gun at him for asking him to leave a vacant lot.

Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey expressed concerns over the emergence of a "neighborhood militia," though she acknowledged the residents' right to bear arms. "We won't interfere unless a crime is committed," she told the Post, adding that the armed residents simply want to keep their community safe.

Tensions with local law enforcement escalated after residents criticized officers for failing to act during the neo-Nazi protest. Demanding answers, Mayor Ruby Kinsey is pushing for a boycott of businesses in neighboring Evendale until their police department is thoroughly investigated.

"Lincoln Heights is saying, if you’re not going to protect us, then we’re going to protect ourselves," Powell told the Post.

With fears that another hate-fueled attack could be around the corner, Lincoln Heights remains on high alert. As hate leaves its ugly mark, residents stand ready to defend their community at all costs.

"We’re here, we’re armed, and we’re not going anywhere," Dominic Brewton Jr., a local maintenance worker, told the Post. "This is what we have to do to keep our families safe."

As the community zips up its defenses, the nation watches closely, eager to see how this fight against racism unfolds in the heart of Ohio.