As a result of continued unrest overnight, Mayor John Cranley has extended the city curfew both in length of time and geographic reach.
The curfew goes into effect at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night and will now include all Cincinnati neighborhoods. It ends at 6 a.m. both days.
The curfew doesn’t apply to city officials, members of public safety forces, emergency personnel, health care professionals, essential workers, those experiencing homelessness or local government officials engaged in lawful duties.
“Everyone who is out after 9 o’clock tonight and tomorrow night is at risk of violating the curfew, which is a criminal offense,” Cranley said during a press briefing today.
But, he said, those people who may be leaving a restaurant or going to a store after 9 p.m. without realizing they are violating the curfew is a different story than those who are motivated by criminal intent and that “common sense prevails.” He said in that scenario, if an officer has the free time to be able to interact with someone, there will be a warning issued, presumably instead of an arrest.
This tweet indicates that a warning will first be issued, however.
The curfew goes into effect tonight at 9 p.m. in all 52 neighborhoods. Only individuals who must be out (ex: essential work) can be out after 9 p.m. CPD will first give warnings to anyone in violation of the curfew.
— City of Cincinnati (@CityOfCincy) May 31, 2020
Last night, protestors moved from Over-the-Rhine and downtown into the Clifton/CUF area after the curfew took effect. Businesses including Adriatico’s and Mr. Tuxedo were damaged in the resulting unrest.
Police Chief Eliot Isaac said just before 1 a.m., officers in a line formation were hit with rocks and bottles at East McMillan and Ohio. During that time a CPD officer was also hit with a bullet, which went through his riot shield and struck his helmet. The officer did not sustain any injuries.
Isaac said CPD arrested 110 people last night, including 78 for curfew violations. Additional charges included arson, assault on a police officer (not for the above shooting), carrying a concealed weapon, rioting and vandalism.
Cranley noted during today’s press briefing that almost every person he saw being arrested was white.
“I just think these kinds of facts have got to get out there. This is a complicated situation and there’s a difference between peaceful protest and righteous indignation and the kinds of things that led to the looting on Friday night and other criminal behavior and potential threats — and real threats — to our police officers,” Cranley said.
Here’s the full curfew order:
This article appears in May 6 – Jun 14, 2020.
