Cincinnati Police Union Denounces Victim Blaming After Mob Attack

Cincinnati Police Union President Denounces Victim Blaming Following Mob Assault Ken Kober, head of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, criticized local government officials for blaming victims of a July 26 mob attack, emphasizing the lack of evidence supporting such claims. The incident involved a group of individuals, predominantly Black, who were beaten by a mob, leading to controversial statements from city officials, including Vice Mayor Jan Michele Kearney, suggesting the victims provoked the assault. Kober stated in an interview that investigative efforts, including video analysis and interviews, have found no indication that the victims instigated the violence. Despite circulating videos of the attack, some city leaders, like Council President Pro Tem Victoria Parks, made comments implying the victims 'begged for that beat down,' which drew widespread criticism. While condemning all violence, Vice Mayor Kearney acknowledged the complexities, condemning both the instigators and those responding to provocation, and accused certain individuals of exploiting the incident to deepen racial and political divides, thereby tarnishing Cincinnati's reputation. Kober attribut...