“I feel like it’s more secure now,” one woman said. “I know my son can walk home and be OK.”

Summary

Following a February 7th neo-Nazi rally, residents of Lincoln Heights, a majority-Black Ohio town, formed an armed Safety and Watch Program to protect against hate groups.

The rally, where participants waved swastikas and shouted slurs, received little police intervention, sparking fears of future threats when no arrests or identifications were made during the incident.

Volunteers now patrol bus stops and neighborhoods. “I’ve never felt safer as a Black man in my community,” said spokesperson Daronce Daniels.

The historically underserved and self-governing community shows strong support for the initiative with yard signs and sees this as a continuation of its legacy of self-reliance and community defense.

  • Deceptichum@quokk.auEnglish
    526·
    9 hours ago

    He said he supports law enforcement, but that its handling of the Feb. 7 demonstration doesn’t give him faith that it will protect him in the future. For that reason, he says he’s proud of the neighborhood safety and watch program, even though he wishes it weren’t needed.

    Well for starters opposing the police instead of supporting them.

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
      31·
      9 hours ago

      You gotta virtue signal sometimes. Purity testing every word people say will get the movement nowhere.