Protesters Arrested, Journalist Detained During Demonstration for Immigrant Chaplain
COVINGTON, KY – Fifteen individuals, including two journalists, were arrested during a protest in Covington on Friday, with authorities citing charges ranging from rioting to failing to disperse. The demonstration was held in support of Ayman soliman, a 51-year-old Egyptian immigrant and chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, who was detained by ICE officials last week.
According to police reports, the protest involved individuals blocking a major bridge, which police stated presented a danger to all involved. Officers reported being met with hostility and threats when attempting to engage with the protest’s organizer.
One protester, identified as Hill, was reportedly struck multiple times by an officer during the incident. A use-of-force report claims Hill was physically resisting and concealing his hands, leading the officer to fear he might be reaching for a weapon. The report also cited the surrounding crowd as a threat to the officer’s safety. Video footage from the event shows individuals in neon vests pushing against a black SUV on the bridge. Hill was later seen with scratches,bruises,and his arm in a sling,reportedly stating he was trying to avoid being shot.
Among those arrested were Madeline Fening, a reporter, and Lucas Griffith, a photo intern, both associated with CityBeat. They face charges including felony rioting.A judge set a $2,500 bond for each of the arrested individuals.
Soliman, who was granted asylum in 2018 due to past persecution as a journalist in Egypt during the Arab Spring, was detained during a routine check-in with ICE. His lawyers state he was previously jailed and tortured for his reporting on Egypt’s political conflicts.
