UPDATE: A chaotic scene unfolded at a Kroger store in Cincinnati as students from the North College Hill School City School District stormed the aisles during an anti-ICE protest on February 14, 2024. Video footage of the incident has gone viral, showing students throwing objects, including beer cans, and disrupting shoppers during the event.
The protest began when students walked out of their classes, demanding an end to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. Witness McAdrian Martin, who filmed the incident, described how students ran through the store, creating chaos. “They just came over here and went to the beer section and threw our beers,” Martin reported, capturing the moment when a security guard yelled for the students to leave.
Authorities are now working to identify those responsible. The school district condemned the behavior in a Facebook post, stating, “This video is disturbing and the parents and families of these students should be embarrassed.” The district pledged to cooperate with local police to hold the students accountable for their actions.
Interim Police Chief Craig Chaney released a statement asserting that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right, “when actions moved beyond peaceful expression and began affecting public safety and private property rights, officers intervened to restore order.” Although most students protested orderly, the chaos prompted police action to prevent further disruption.
Video evidence shows the ceiling of the store was damaged, and one shopper was reportedly struck by a projectile thrown by the students. While the injury was not severe enough to warrant paramedic attention, the affected individual was “highly upset,” according to Martin. He expressed strong feelings about the students’ actions, insisting that those responsible must be prosecuted. “It’s not safe for the environment. It’s not safe for the customers,” he stated.
This incident is part of a broader trend of student-led protests against ICE across the nation. As tensions rise, many are questioning who is really behind these movements, with suggestions that they are not entirely student-driven.
As authorities continue to investigate, the situation remains fluid. The North College Hill School District has yet to respond to requests for further comment. Community members are keenly watching how the district and local police will handle the fallout from this disruptive protest.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
