The viral video that emerged via Facebook on July 26 depicting a fight involving multiple people in Downtown Cincinnati has made its way to the eyes of city officials and law enforcement alike.
The post claims the fight took place at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets late Friday, July 25, when thousands of people were Downtown for The Cincinnati Music Festival.
Just after 6 p.m. on July 26, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge released a statement regarding the incident.
“I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen. The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable,” Theetge said. “Our investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm.”
She said the fight was not connected to the Cincinnati Music Festival.
“This was a sudden dispute between individuals following a verbal altercation,” Theetge said.
As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, the fight is still under investigation, and no updates regarding arrests or hospitalizations have been released, according to Cincinnati police spokesman Jonathan Cunningham.
Theetge is among many city officials and law enforcement who have voiced their concerns over the fighting shown in the video.
Mark Jefferys, Cincinnati city councilman
Cincinnati City Councilman Mark Jeffreys described the video of the fight as “incredibly disturbing and horrific,” as well as “downright inhumane.” He added that he’s spoken with other city officials and police to work on “finding the individuals responsible and arresting them urgently.”
“This behavior cannot stand and will not represent our city,” Jeffreys said. “Those responsible must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys described the video of the fight as “incredibly disturbing and horrific,” as well as “downright inhumane.”
Cecil Thomas, Ohio state representative
Cecil Thomas, state representative of Ohio’s 25th District, said in a statement to Enquirer media partner Fox19 that he is “totally embarrassed to see such behavior.”
Thomas goes on to say that, with visitors from around the country, this sort of violence is “unacceptable.”
Scott Hughes, Hamilton Township police chief
Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes took to X to share, “What happened on Fourth Street in Cincinnati wasn’t just a fight,” Hughes wrote.
“It was a breakdown of order, decency, and accountability—caught on video and cheered on by a crowd. This isn’t just Cincinnati’s problem. It’s ours too.”
Hugh added that the incidents in Cincinnati don’t just stay in the city, as “the perception of danger ripples across the region,” discouraging residents from visiting Downtown’s many events and attractions.
“Families stop going out. Businesses stop investing. And cities lose the very momentum they worked to build,” he said. “This video isn’t just another viral moment. It’s a warning shot. We can either raise our voices or watch silence fund the chaos.
Bernie Moreno, Ohio senator
Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno took to X to call out Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval for not issuing a statement or condemnation of the “heinous attack.”
“Instead of dreaming about higher office, which will never happen, he should be ensuring his residents are safe,” Moreno wrote.
Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
In a retweet of Moreno’s X post, Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said, “Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans” and that the division will monitor how local authorities handle this incident.
“Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply,” she added.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati officials react to video of Downtown fight
