The viral video of the downtown Cincinnati brawl is disturbing.
A woman was punched unconscious. A man was kicked while on the ground. Bystanders filming, not helping. Now, in the aftermath, everyone is demanding a “plan” − some turning to the police, others blaming City Hall. The Restaurant Association wants new action. Critics on social media are blaming the mayor, the chief, and even city policy.
Let’s pause.
What kind of ‘plan’ could’ve prevented this?
Yes, it was ugly. But let’s be honest about what it was: a spontaneous, alcohol-fueled street fight on a weekend when more than 150,000 people were downtown. It happened at Fourth and Elm streets. It escalated fast. And only one person called 911.
What kind of “plan” can prevent that?
Are we expecting the police to be stationed on every corner, 24 hours a day? Do we want them patrolling outside every bar at closing time? Police Chief Theresa Theetge said it plainly: incidents like this almost always involve excessive alcohol consumption. That fact alone should broaden the conversation.
Because here’s what’s really going on: instead of recognizing that public safety is a shared responsibility, we’re falling back on blame. The hospitality industry blames the police. The police could easily blame the bars. Everyone points at City Council. Meanwhile, the individuals who started the fight − and the dozens who stood by and filmed − are lost in the fog of scapegoating.
We have to stop doing that.
There is no perfect plan. This is about culture.
There is no perfect plan that prevents every bad choice. No policy substitutes for self-control. And there is no city where police can babysit 150,000 people − especially not when many have been over-served.
We need to stop pretending this is about resourcing or optics. It’s about something deeper: a culture that tolerates dysfunction, indulges disrespect, and outsources moral responsibility to institutions that were never designed to carry it all.
If we’re serious about preventing more scenes like this, here’s where we start:
This wasn’t a failure of the police. It was a failure of all of us. No plan works unless the culture supports it.
Dennis Doyle lives in Anderson Township and is a member of the Enquirer Board of Contributors.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: If Cincinnati is serious about preventing more brawls, here’s where we start | Opinion
Reporting by Dennis Doyle / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
