Students storm Kroger after walking out for protest
CINCINNATI, Ohio — A widely circulated video on social media captured a group of students leaving school to protest the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), then storming a Kroger supermarket in Cincinnati, throwing items onto the ceiling and causing property damage.
According to witness McAdrian Martin, who was shopping at the time of the incident, the group of students ran through the aisles of the supermarket, taking beer cans and alcoholic beverages from shelves and throwing them onto the ceiling. A security guard asked the group to leave the store.
In the video, a female customer stated that the students carried signs with the phrase "F ICE".
Incident stemmed from anti-ICE protest movement
The incident occurred after a group of students from the North College Hill City School District walked out of class to participate in an anti-ICE protest. This activity took place amidst similar demonstrations occurring at many schools across the United States.
According to local police, most students participated in the protest in an orderly and peaceful manner. However, a small group separated and caused chaos by storming a nearby Kroger supermarket.
School condemns actions, police launch investigation
The North College Hill City School District condemned the behavior in a Facebook post, calling the video "disturbing" and stating that it would work closely with the North College Hill Police Department to identify those involved and take appropriate action.
Interim Police Chief Craig Chaney affirmed that law enforcement respects the constitutional right to peaceful expression. However, he emphasized that when behavior goes beyond the bounds of peaceful protest and affects public safety or private property, the police have a responsibility to intervene to restore order.
Supermarket ceiling damaged, person hit by object
According to witnesses, the supermarket ceiling was damaged by thrown objects. Additionally, a man was hit in the head by an object during the chaos. The victim did not require medical attention but was reportedly very upset by the incident.
Witness Martin expressed the view that those who caused the disturbance should face legal prosecution for endangering both customers and store employees.
Currently, the North College Hill City School District has not issued further comments on the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
