Covington Police arrested more than a dozen people who were among a large group marching across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Thursday evening.
The marchers were protesting the ICE detention of Imam Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant and former chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Soliman was detained July 9 after his asylum status was revoked.
The protest started after a vigil at The Banks in Cincinnati organized by Ignite Peace, Ohio Poor People’s Campaign, SURJ Cincinnati and area faith leaders.
Following remarks by speakers advocating for Soliman, dozens marched in the south lane of the Roebling Bridge at about 8 p.m. The march was not sanctioned by the organizers of the vigil, marchers said.
The protest caused tension. As it began, a driver in a black sedan pulled up and honked and gestured at protesters in the roundabout approaching the Cincinnati side of the bridge and indicated he was calling police.
As marchers entered the north side of the bridge, another vehicle, a black SUV sped past marshals attempting to block the road and appeared to come very close to or actually make contact with two marchers.
March organizers in yellow vests confronted the driver of the vehicle and attempted to block it from the bulk of the march; it eventually passed and proceeded over the bridge.
Covington Police and other Kentucky law enforcement officers blocked the bridge with multiple squad cars near its halfway point.
Officers ordered the marchers onto the pedestrian walkways lining the bridge, then quickly began making arrests.
Protesters yelled and chanted at police. Police deployed non-lethal projectiles. At least one police dog was walked onto the bridge. Multiple marchers were tazed. An officer struck an arrestee on the bridge's eastern pedestrian walkway with his fists while the person was lying on the ground.
A WVXU reporter captured many of the arrests on video.
— Nick Swartsell (@nswartsell) July 18, 2025
"While the department supports the public’s right to peaceful assembly and expression, threatening officers and blocking critical infrastructure, such as a major bridge, presents a danger to all involved," Covington Police said in a news release.
The department arrested 13 people, according to the release. They face charges including resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstructing a highway, and others. Those arrested have court dates set for 8:20 a.m. Friday, July 18.
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