ICE Detention Protest Leads to Cincinnati Arrests \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Thirteen people, including two journalists, were arrested in Cincinnati during a protest over the detention of a former hospital chaplain. Demonstrators blocked a bridge connecting Ohio and Kentucky, prompting police action. Tensions rose nationwide over press freedom and immigration enforcement tactics.
Quick Looks
- Cincinnati police arrested 13 protesters, including two journalists.
- Demonstrators blocked Roebling Bridge to protest ICE detention of Ayman Soliman.
- Soliman, an Egyptian chaplain, was detained during a routine ICE check-in.
- Journalists with CityBeat face felony rioting charges after covering the protest.
- Police say protesters ignored dispersal orders and threatened officers.
- Charges include rioting, obstruction, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief.
- Protesters carried a banner reading “Build Bridges Not Walls.”
- Video footage shows a tense arrest and officer punching a protester.
- Nationwide, journalists have been arrested at immigration- protests.
- ICE continues to hold Spanish-speaking reporter Mario Guevara despite dropped charges.
Deep Look
A protest over immigration enforcement erupted in Cincinnati Thursday night, culminating in the arrest of at least 13 individuals — including two journalists — after demonstrators blocked traffic on the Roebling Suspension Bridge, a vital route spanning the Ohio River between Ohio and Kentucky.
The protest, sparked by the detention of Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant and former chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, began downtown before moving onto the bridge. Supporters carried signs and banners, one of which read “Build Bridges Not Walls,” symbolizing their call for compassionate immigration reform.
Soliman, who had been checking in routinely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of his immigration process, was unexpectedly detained last week. His detention outraged members of the community and immigrant advocacy groups, who say Soliman had no criminal record and was a respected member of the local interfaith community.
Tensions rose during the demonstration as a group of protesters marched onto the bridge, obstructing two lanes of traffic. According to video footage, a black SUV slowly approached the crowd. One demonstrator wearing a neon vest was seen pushing against the vehicle. Police from Covington, Kentucky — the city at the southern end of the bridge — soon intervened.
Authorities say they initially attempted to speak with protest organizers, but were met with hostility and threats. When demonstrators refused to disperse, officers moved in to make arrests. In one video, a protester is seen being punched multiple times by an officer while others attempt to intervene. The footage has since gone viral, fueling further debate on the policing of peaceful protests.
Among those arrested were Citybeat reporter Madeline Fening and photo intern Lucas Griffith, who were covering the protest for the Cincinnati-based news and entertainment outlet. Both now face felony charges of rioting, in addition to other protest- accusations. CityBeat Editor-in-Chief Ashley Moor confirmed the arrests and expressed concern about the growing threats to press freedom in the United States.
A judge set bond at $2,500 for each of the arrested individuals during their arraignment Friday morning in a Kentucky court. Media advocates have called the charges against the journalists excessive, warning of the chilling effect such actions can have on independent reporting.
Across the country, similar protests to immigration enforcement have led to the arrest and injury of reporters. In Los Angeles, over two dozen journalists have been injured or assaulted this year while covering demonstrations against ICE raids and detentions. In Atlanta, Spanish-language journalist Mario Guevara was arrested in June during a protest organized by the activist group “No Kings.”
Guevara said the establishment reporter charged with unlawful assembly, obstructing police, and being a pedestrian in the roadway — all charges that were later dropped. Nonetheless, ICE took custody of Guevara, and he now remains in an immigration detention center in southern Georgia. His attorneys assert that Guevara has legal authorization to work and remain in the United States, yet ICE has not halted deportation efforts.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker and other watchdog organizations have raised alarms about the rise in journalist arrests during protests in 2024 and 2025, particularly at events involving immigration enforcement. These arrests, critics say, represent an erosion of the First Amendment and the essential role of journalists in documenting civil unrest.
Covington police issued a statement Friday emphasizing that while the department respects the public’s right to free speech and peaceful assembly, blocking vital infrastructure like a major river bridge presents public safety risks. They added that the protest escalated when organizers refused to cooperate and made threats against officers.
The charges filed include rioting, failing to disperse, obstructing emergency services, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct — all of which carry the potential for serious legal consequences.
As of Friday afternoon, protests were continuing in support of Soliman, with advocates demanding transparency in his case and the immediate release of detained journalists. Civil rights groups are also calling for an independent investigation into the police’s handling of the protest, particularly the violent arrest captured on video.
The broader context reflects escalating tensions nationwide around immigration enforcement, protest policing, and the criminalization of both activism and journalism. For many, the events in Cincinnati are just the latest example of what they see as an increasingly punitive approach to dissent — and a troubling crackdown on freedom of the press.
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