In the wake of a neo-Nazi demonstration that cast shadows over Interstate 75 on February 7, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey stood before the press and the public with calls for action and legislative reform. The group, which displayed banners with swastikas and several members openly armed with rifles, has been labeled "cowards" by McGuffey, who believes that all involved came from outside of Cincinnati. "We’re going to know where they came from, I promise you that," McGuffey told WLWT.
Giving voice to her concern, Sheriff McGuffey has issued a call to the Ohio legislature, pressing them to create a bill that would make it illegal to wear masks for intimidation while openly carrying a weapon. Caught unprepared by the previous event, the Sheriff's office will now implement extra patrols in Lincoln Heights, ensuring that if the group attempts to return, "We will not be surprised," said McGuffey in a statement that carried the weight of the office she represents, as reported by FOX19.
The events have stirred a broader conversation on the response to hate groups in the area. McGuffey's office has since turned over all relevant evidence to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, which will handle the investigation into the demonstration's legal and constitutional implications. McGuffey was clear about her stance on the issue, stating, "I am calling on the legislators in Ohio to make it a crime to wear a mask for the purpose of intimidation while open carrying a weapon." This statement was corroborated by Local12.
The community's response to the demonstration has come with its own complexities, illustrated when Sheriff McGuffey addressed concerns about residents potentially forming neighborhood militias in an attempt to protect themselves. Running parallel to the need for enhanced law enforcement tools, McGuffey cautioned, "we do not want to create neighborhood militias, it leads back to tactics of these neo-Nazis," as found in an interview with a resident by WLWT.
Adding to the contentious atmosphere, footage revealed that Evendale police had escorted the neo-Nazis onto school property, which has prompted local leaders and neighbors to call for accountability and an independent investigation. As a result, the Lockland School Board is seeking to evaluate the responses of the Lockland and Evendale police departments. Sheriff McGuffey has indicated that further discussions between the involved departments will wait until the prosecutor's investigation is concluded, ensuring that an analysis of actions taken will be informed by legal perspectives, according to Local12.
