Anti-ICE Protesters Arrested on an Ohio River Bridge: Don't Try That in a Small Town

Well, try that in a small town

See how far you make it down the road

Around here, we take care of our own

You cross that line, it won't take long

For you to find out, I recommend you don't

Try that in a small town.

"Don't Try That in a Small Town"

Performed by Jason Aldean

Protesters gathered on the Roebling Bridge a few days ago to protest the detention of a former hospital chaplain by ICE agents. The bridge spans the Ohio River and is a vital link between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky.

Some protesters stayed on the pedestrian path, and some obstructed traffic in the roadway. Police officers from Covington, Kentucky, arrived to deal with the disruption, and fifteen people were arrested.

Video of the event shows a Covington police officer hitting a protester repeatedly, and that officer was placed on administrative leave. A woman was also thrown down and restrained.

Police officers who use excessive force when making arrests should be disciplined. On the other hand, we can't excuse people who resist arrest or assault the police. 

From the video I viewed, I can't determine who was in the wrong during the scuffle on the Roebling Bridge. It may be months before the incident is sorted out.

This, however, I do know. Anti-ICE protesters have repeatedly vandalized property, set fires, and assaulted police officers in West Coast cities and have largely gone unpunished.

Folks in Flyover Country aren't as tolerant of disruptive protests as those on the Coasts. So, if you have a hankering to throw rocks at police, loot buildings, or set cars on fire, you should express yourself in Los Angeles or Seattle, where the Covington, Kentucky police have no jurisdiction.

Don't try that in a small town.