CINCINNATI — Mayor Aftab Pureval said preventing violent crime in Cincinnati has been the "singular top priority" for city leaders both before and after what police referred to as a "violent attack" downtown last weekend.
In a press conference alongside elected officials, business owners and faith leaders, Pureval said that while data shows Cincinnati is "on the right track" in addressing violence, "it means nothing if the public perception does not match."
"Too many Cincinnatians don't feel safe," Pureval said. "We have to make the city safer right now."
Watch the entire press conference below:
Specifically, Pureval noted the fears that Cincinnati's downtown area is not safe. The viral videos shared on social media showed multiple people involved in what Pureval referred to as an "awful and horrific" incident downtown at the intersection of 4th and Elm streets early Saturday morning.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said police identified six victims — five men and one woman. Police have also charged six people with felonious assault and aggravated rioting. Four of those people have been arrested, with CPD actively pursuing the remaining two.
Police have yet to provide additional details on what happened, saying it is an ongoing investigation. However, viral videos show dozens of people fighting in the street. At one point, a man is chased into the street before he is kicked and stomped on by several others.
After the man leaves the frame of the video, a woman punches another woman in the back of the head. Then, a man can be seen punching her directly in the face, causing her to collapse to the ground. It appears the woman was knocked unconscious, and blood begins to pour from her mouth. A group of people can then be seen helping the woman as she regains consciousness.
WATCH: Cincinnati police's press conference after the downtown fight went viral
In the city's press conference, Rev. Damon Lynch spoke about the moments before the viral video captured the incident, referring to another video showing a white man and a Black man preparing to fight on the street as another Black man tries to break the two up. At that time, the white man can be seen slapping a different Black man, which appears to begin the "attack."
When asked why the city has yet to release the additional footage of the fight, Theetge said that though there's a "very strong appetite" for more footage, "I need to let the investigators continue to do their job."
Theetge said police hope to release more footage and information regarding the attack within the next week, but reiterated that anyone involved would be brought to justice.
Because the videos of the fight show both Black and white people involved, Pureval, Lynch, City Manager Sheryl Long and council member Scotty Johnson spoke at length about how the event has inflamed overt racial tensions both locally and nationally.
"We are a proudly diverse city with a large and vibrant Black community that is rich in tradition and in history," Pureval said. "The racial dynamics of this fight are unavoidable. And some have cynically used the opportunity to try and divide us along racial lines. That is a choice we must firmly reject."
Lynch specifically called out state and national leaders, including Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno and Vice President JD Vance, who he said are "racializing and politicizing" the event.
"This would not be national news if this was a group of Black people that jumped on other Black people ... but obviously, it's national news because it's been racialized," Lynch said.
Pureval called for residents to "reach toward our shared humanity, irrespective of race and creed" in response to people trying to divide the city by racial lines.
The mayor also applauded Gov. Mike DeWine's offer of additional Ohio State Highway Patrol resources to free up CPD resources, calling him a "good man."
Specifically, Pureval said OSHP help will allow Cincinnati police to focus on the city's urban core. Cincinnati's CDRT and SWAT, which have been deployed every single weekend, to expand through 4th Street, where the violence occurred.
Additionally, a new bike patrol will monitor the Fountain District to increase visibility.
"We are by no means finished," said Pureval. "We have more work to do. We are meeting this moment with urgency. But we are also meeting this moment with a shared and deep understanding of Cincinnati's history, of the progress we've made to get us here and an undeniable vision that our best days are ahead of us."
