This past weekend, Cincinnati police officers took swift action to remove an antisemitic banner that was hanging from an overpass on Columbia Parkway, sparking outcry from the local community. The banner, which bore the message “Save Ireland from the Jews,” was reported by several concerned citizens, prompting a response from law enforcement.
While the banner was not placed along the route of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, its message coincided with the holiday weekend, raising concerns among residents. Upon receiving multiple calls regarding the offensive banner, the Cincinnati Police Department confirmed its existence and quickly moved to take it down.
“Due to signage being prohibited from hanging from any overpass and the size of the banner which created a safety hazard to motorists traveling underneath, CPD did remove the banner,” the department stated in a response to WCPO.
Rabbi Ari Jun, director of Cincinnati’s Jewish Community Relations Council, was alerted to the banner by a community member on Saturday morning. Reports also surfaced of a possible second banner bearing similar antisemitic messaging on the overpass located on Hopple Street and Interstate 75.
“We got into action right away as soon as we heard about this,” Rabbi Jun said. “We were in touch with local law enforcement, with members of Cincinnati City Council, we were in touch with everything we could to make sure these banners got taken down immediately.”
Jun highlighted a concerning trend of rising antisemitism in the U.S. over the past decade, with the Anti-Defamation League reporting a 360% increase in antisemitic incidents since October. The Jewish Community Relations Council in Cincinnati has been actively monitoring and responding to reports of antisemitism in the area.
“This is not an easy time for our Jewish community,” Jun expressed. “I hear from people all the time that they are uncomfortable being Jewish in public. That is the overall effect of this rise in antisemitism.”
Despite the removal of the antisemitic banner, Cincinnati police did not disclose information regarding who may have hung it or how long it had been displayed before being taken down. The incident has reignited conversations about the need to address and combat acts of hate and bigotry within the community.
