Armed Parents in Ohio Suburb Echo a 2020 Flashpoint When Police Stood By
Lincoln Heights, Ohio — March 28, 2025
In the Cincinnati suburb of Lincoln Heights, parents donning combat gear and carrying firearms to escort their children to school have reignited a national debate about law enforcement’s role—or lack thereof—in times of crisis. The scene evokes haunting parallels to 2020, when police across American cities appeared to stand idly by as protesters torched buildings, looted businesses, and clashed violently during a summer of unrest following George Floyd’s killing. For this historic Black community, now facing neo-Nazi incursions and perceived police inaction, the armed patrols signal a familiar distrust in authorities—a sentiment that fueled chaos five years ago.
In 2020, cities like Minneapolis, Portland, and Kenosha became battlegrounds as protests over racial injustice spiraled into riots. Footage showed flames engulfing police precincts, storefronts reduced to smoldering rubble, and officers in riot gear holding lines but rarely intervening as destruction unfolded. In Minneapolis, the Third Precinct station was abandoned and burned on May 28, 2020, with police retreating under orders to de-escalate. Portland saw 100 consecutive nights of unrest, with federal buildings targeted and police criticized for both excessive force and passivity. Kenosha’s downtown burned for days after Jacob Blake’s shooting, with law enforcement appearing overwhelmed or unwilling to engage.
Critics at the time accused police of selective enforcement, allowing arson and looting to proceed unchecked. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) recorded over 10,000 protest events nationwide in 2020, with property damage exceeding $1 billion in insured losses alone. In many instances, officers cited tactical restraint or insufficient resources, while conservatives decried a “stand-down” culture driven by political pressure. Liberals, meanwhile, argued police prioritized protecting institutions over people, amplifying public outrage.
Fast forward to Lincoln Heights in 2025, and the grievances sound eerily similar. After neo-Nazis marched through this Black enclave last month—unimpeded by police who made no arrests despite the group’s weapons and threats—residents say they’re done waiting for protection. The subsequent appearance of KKK fliers only deepened their resolve. Daronce Daniels, a militia organizer, draws a direct line to 2020: “We saw how cops let cities burn when it suited them. Now they’re letting Nazis walk free here. We’re not letting our kids be next.” Like the vigilantes who emerged in 2020—think Kenosha’s Kyle Rittenhouse or armed business owners guarding their properties—these parents are filling a perceived vacuum.
Yet key differences stand out. The 2020 unrest was decentralized, fueled by a broad coalition of protesters, opportunists, and agitators amid a national reckoning. Lincoln Heights’ response is hyper-local, a community-driven effort rooted in self-defense against a specific threat. Where 2020 saw police retreat under political scrutiny or logistical strain, here they’re accused of apathy or bias—residents claim officers treated the neo-Nazis with kid gloves compared to how they’d handle Black protesters. Ohio’s open-carry laws also give this militia a legal edge that 2020’s armed citizens often lacked in stricter states.
The fallout mirrors 2020’s polarization. Supporters in Lincoln Heights see the patrols as a stand against hate, much like those who cheered vigilantes protecting neighborhoods back then. Critics, including police and nearby white communities, warn of vigilantism spiraling out of control—echoing 2020 debates over Rittenhouse and rooftop militias. Both cases spotlight a shared thread: when trust in law enforcement frays, citizens take up arms, and the line between order and chaos blurs. As Lincoln Heights braces for what’s next, it’s a stark reminder that 2020’s wounds—and questions about who keeps the peace—remain wide open. 17GEN4.com
Comments