WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.519 --> 00:00:08.439 Jan nine, first one of wee the four kass. It's 2 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.119 gonna be mostly cloudy day. Isolated showers may show up afternoon. 3 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:14.759 It's gonna be high ninety two, low one hundred, heat index, humid, 4 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:17.839 overnight muggy seventy six, a low and cloudy, partly cloudy. 5 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:20.079 Tomorrow hot humid ninety four with the heat index low 6 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:22.920 one hundreds. Tuesday night partly cloudy, muggy seventy three, and 7 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:26.160 on Wednesday, another partly cloudy day with scattered showers and 8 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:29.320 storms possible and a high of ninety two seventy six degrees. 9 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:31.160 Right now, let's turn it to Chuck and get a 10 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:33.119 traffic update from. 11 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.759 The UCF Tramphing Center, uc Health Weight Boss Center of 12 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:40.159 Verst Surgical and Medical Obcity Care and Expertise called five 13 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.719 one three nine three nine two two sixty three. That's 14 00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:45.840 nine three nine twenty two sixty three. They cleared the 15 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.560 recks on seventy five both in two seventy five and 16 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:52.159 earl Linger and above Monroe. Traffic starting to get better 17 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.960 at both seth found seventy five slows just a bit 18 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.200 out of Walkman towards the lateral chuck Ingram on fifty 19 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:08.439 five krs the talks day. 20 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:06.640 Say twenty nine, think about here see the talk station. 21 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:10.840 Happy to look up and see in studio Rabbi Ari June. 22 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:12.680 He's been here before to talk about some other topics, 23 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:14.680 and good to see Rabbi. Welcome back, Thank you. It's 24 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.239 nice to be here. It's just always a pleasure engaging 25 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:20.480 in the elevated conversation with you. Have a tremendous amount 26 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:23.120 of respect for you. What you do remind my listeners 27 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.200 your position in the community and why it would be 28 00:01:25.319 --> 00:01:28.239 you here discussing this matter, why you would comment about 29 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.400 the Robling suspension bridge, which we'll get to in a moment. 30 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:34.000 Absolutely so. I'm a rabbi in Cincinnati. I'm the senior 31 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:37.920 Rabbi of Temple Sholem and have been active in issues 32 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:41.159 in this community. For gosh, I'm not a real native Cincinnati, 33 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:45.239 but I've been here about fifteen years now, and there's 34 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:48.680 been this whole situation going on over the last few 35 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:54.599 weeks that started with the detention of any mom I'm 36 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:59.319 in Solomon on some immigration related issues and has sort 37 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:01.879 of taken on a life of its own, including this 38 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:03.599 protest over at the Ropeling Bridge. 39 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:07.239 Right now, I understand that people might protest ice detention 40 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:12.360 of Aiman Solomon. We were engaged in multiple protests about 41 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:14.719 immigration enforcement across this country. It's one of the biggest 42 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:19.240 topics out there politically speaking. Your perception of the detention 43 00:02:19.479 --> 00:02:24.000 of i'man i'm in Solomon initially, where are you? Are 44 00:02:24.039 --> 00:02:26.039 you defending him? Do you think it was an appropriate 45 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:29.080 detention Before we get to what actually unfolded on the 46 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:30.479 bridge as a consequence of the. 47 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:33.439 Protest, absolutely, you know, I will to cheat ahead a 48 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:35.000 little bit. One of the things I think is really 49 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:37.360 unfortunate about this protest at the Ropelining Bridge is it 50 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.800 draws attention away from the actual issue, which is you know, 51 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.240 this question about this particular detention of Imm Solomon and 52 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:48.159 immigration issues broadly. But so I'll pull back from that, right. 53 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:50.439 We're definitely going to get to that, oh, I know, 54 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:52.639 but to bring the attention to where I think it 55 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:56.560 should be. You know, Imm Solomon, we can only really 56 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:59.919 speak with confidence I think here about who he is 57 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:02.479 been as a member of our local community. You know, 58 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:05.000 he's been in Cincinnati for years now, been working as 59 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:09.479 a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and in our community, 60 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:11.400 which is what we can speak with confidence about he's 61 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.960 been a model member of Cincinnati. You know, he's the 62 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.560 kind of guy who's shown up in the nicu and 63 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:21.479 working with parents who are in dire situations with children 64 00:03:21.560 --> 00:03:24.960 are suffering. He has been to any member of the 65 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:29.240 Jewish community, a real ally that's good, showed up at 66 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:34.879 vigils to support Jews after October seventh, has you know, 67 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.159 been there with rabbis and Cincinnati who run the whole 68 00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:41.680 spectrum from you know, from Reform to Orthodox, and been 69 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:44.240 a real friend and partner. Doesn't mean we agree on everything. 70 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.479 We don't agree on everything, but that's you know, that's 71 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:49.560 part of living in a pluralistic society is you can 72 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:51.639 make friends with people with whom you have disagreements. 73 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 So the I'm and obviously obviously not a Jewish person. 74 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.639 He's not a river to the Sea kind of advocate. 75 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.120 I think he's probably a critic of Israel in many regards, 76 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:04.360 and there are Jews who make the same sort of 77 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.639 criticism that he makes. 78 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.000 Well, I have a lot of Jewish friends who also 79 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:10.360 will make the same pa It's okay to do that, 80 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:12.800 but he's not the kind of person who's looking to 81 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:15.000 wipe out all the Jews who live in Israel. 82 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:17.439 One of the interesting thing about things about his case 83 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.639 is that he has pushed against people trying to connect 84 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:24.360 his particular situation right now, his detention and his immigration issues. 85 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.759 He doesn't want that connected to the Israel Palestine debate. 86 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:29.279 He's been pretty clear about that. 87 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:30.120 Well, it shouldn't be. 88 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.680 Well, no, look, he's not Palestinian. First of all, he 89 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:38.959 is an Egyptian citizen who's been here on asylum. He, 90 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:43.319 like many members of our global Muslim community, has a 91 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.480 connection to the Palestinian community because they consider that, you know, 92 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:51.160 part of their people, so to speak. But he sees 93 00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.800 a difference between some of these things, and yeah, he's 94 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:55.199 not a River to the Sea kind of guy. 95 00:04:55.319 --> 00:05:00.160 Yeah, your point is, I think too many people well, 96 00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:02.959 and I catch myself if I find myself painting with 97 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.720 too broad a brush, as they say, I'll call myself 98 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:07.600 out on I wait a second, maybe I was paint 99 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:10.240 with too broad a brush. Because you happen to be 100 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:14.600 Muslim doesn't mean you hold a particular ideological perspective as 101 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.040 it relates to the existence of Israel, or the eradication 102 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.959 of Israel, or how you feel about the Jewish people. 103 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.519 Generally speaking, the world's filled with opinions, and within the 104 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:24.959 Muslim community there are many varied opinions, much in the 105 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:26.519 same way you just pointed out there are many varied 106 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.279 opinions within the Jewish community. 107 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.839 Absolutely, and I there's something that strange that sometimes goes 108 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:37.160 on which concerns me, which is sometimes there's this if 109 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:41.439 you're Muslim, you're presumed guilty of anti Semitism until proven otherwise. 110 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:43.319 Yes, and God, I hate it. 111 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:47.199 I think it's probably clear to those who know me 112 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.879 that I've dealt with plenty of issues of antisemitism personally 113 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:55.480 and professionally in my life. I am defensive against anti Semitism. Yes, 114 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:57.600 it does not mean that every person who's Muslim is 115 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.800 anti Semitic. It doesn't mean every critic of Israel is 116 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:02.720 anti Semitic. And I Mom, Solomon certainly is not an 117 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:03.519 anti Semite. 118 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.560 All right, Well pause right now because we're gonna take 119 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:10.319 a break. But I'm wondering what is the connection, because 120 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:16.759 Rabbi I do not understand anti Semitism. To me, it's 121 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.839 like racism. Why would you hate someone merely because of 122 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.079 who they are the race of Jewish people? You just 123 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:25.480 immediately think they're all bad and evil and they're worthy 124 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:28.639 of some sort of form of hatred that's anti Semitism. 125 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:32.240 Is there a direct correlation between this, this concept of 126 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:34.639 anti Semitism, which I perceive to be the hatred or 127 00:06:34.680 --> 00:06:40.319 the antagonism or evil toward Jewish people generally speaking, or 128 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:43.079 is it based upon the existence and creation of the 129 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:45.920 State of Israel. Let's just delve on that. A little 130 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:48.879 good bridge to the bridge should perfect. I'm glad you 131 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:51.560 perceive it to be that way. It's eight thirty five. 132 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:53.959 Rabbi Ari John in the studio will continue after these 133 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:54.560 brief words. 134 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:57.920 This is fifty five karc an iHeartRadio station. 135 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.399 It's Summertari Juhn in studio, trying to unpack the problems 136 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.000 of the world. We were talking about anti Semitism generally speaking. 137 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:07.079 Of course, this on the heels of i' mom Amen. 138 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:11.439 Solomon's detention by Ice. Obviously a well respected man in 139 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:14.439 the community. You mentioned some of his attributes. He's very helpful, 140 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.079 he's a bridge crosser, he reaches across the aisle, works 141 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.759 well with the Jewish community and other communities. Has done 142 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.399 some great work. So before we get to his trials 143 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:27.439 and tribulations. Addressing my question mark because as I say that, 144 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.920 I don't understand the hatred of a person for merely 145 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.839 being of a particular race, and so I can't hate 146 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:36.000 you for being a Jew just in and of itself. 147 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.720 There are people out in the world who hate black 148 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:39.920 people just because they're black. That makes no sense to 149 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:42.279 me either. You know, I'm like a you know, I 150 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:44.319 never met a man I didn't like kind of guy, 151 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:46.360 which is sort of you got to take the time 152 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:49.000 to know somebody before you're allowed to draw conclusions. And 153 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:53.560 because all these different people exist across broad political sUAS 154 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:56.399 within any given community, I can't draw a conclusion. It 155 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.360 wouldn't be fair for me to do so. But I'm 156 00:07:58.439 --> 00:08:01.000 kind of curious to know if this concept of anti 157 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:04.759 Semitism has more of a connection with the creation of 158 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:08.720 Israel as a state and the displacement of the Palestinian 159 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:10.920 people or anybody else that got this place when Israel 160 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.279 was created in what nineteen four or nineteen forty seven? 161 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:16.079 So do you see that as being a sort of 162 00:08:16.120 --> 00:08:18.279 a blurred line or maybe a problematic area. 163 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:21.839 There's an intersection, no question. Look, anti Semitism has been 164 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.000 around for literally thousands of years. People call it the 165 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:29.199 oldest form of hate. You know, in our Western context, 166 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:31.040 a lot of people think of the Holocaust as being 167 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.639 like the start of antisemitism or something anything. But I mean, 168 00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.440 there have been thousands and thousands of years of people 169 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:41.399 attacking Jews because of their identity. And what's unique about 170 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.679 anti Semitism a form of hate, is that it tends 171 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:49.080 to mutate throughout history. So generally speaking, in history, people 172 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:53.240 will target Jews for whatever the perceived gravest evil of 173 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:55.399 the time is. So, if capitalism is bad, Jews or 174 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:59.279 the capitalists. If communism's bad, Jews are the communists, you 175 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.840 name it. In the present day, when you know ethnic 176 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:08.799 nationalism trends are perceived as evil, Jews must be the colonialist, nationalist, 177 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:13.279 whatever group that's most evil in the world. So Israel's 178 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.279 connected to it, no question. But Israel's more of an 179 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:18.279 excuse than the impetus. 180 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.440 Right because it has been around for a long time. 181 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:23.799 Let's face it, the Holocaust came about as a consequence 182 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.039 of Jews getting the blame for the poor economic conditions 183 00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:30.399 in Germany. That was an extension of the thousand plus 184 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:33.799 years of Jews being blamed for any other economic calamity 185 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:35.799 or another problem in the world. How is it they 186 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.840 became a target. How is it that that was a 187 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:41.120 default group? Is it because of the you represent a 188 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:44.639 minority status in the world in terms of global population. 189 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:47.399 So the minority status thing is a huge part of it. 190 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:50.639 I think Also, Jews have, in different societies for the 191 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.960 last two thousand years, been a minority who was a 192 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.559 homeless group, so to speak. Right until the creation of Israel, 193 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:02.360 from you know, the year seventy CE until nineteen forty eight, 194 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:06.960 Jews were existing independently of their own homeland, moving from 195 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.600 place to place as a tiny minority, pretty easy to 196 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.720 pick off and scapegoat and target. You layer on top 197 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.600 of that religious differences intentions that existed between Christianity and 198 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.200 Islam and Judaism, and you've got the recipe for all 199 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:21.080 sorts of disaster. 200 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:24.240 Well. And in that context, you know, people who of 201 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:27.200 like minds tend to dwell together. I mean, it makes 202 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:29.360 perfect sense. If you're of the same religion, you're the 203 00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:32.320 same race, and you don't have a land that you 204 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:34.240 can call your own, you're going to congregate in your 205 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.919 own community in any given country. That just makes perfect sense. 206 00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:41.600 But you've also proven to be demonstrably successful. I mean, 207 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.559 I know from my discussions with my Jewish friends and 208 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:47.639 correct me if I'm wrong. You look out for each other. 209 00:10:48.039 --> 00:10:51.080 You're part of that family of Jewish people. You help 210 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:54.320 each other in business perspectives, you elevate your fellow jew 211 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:58.799 And I mean, and because it is I suppose a 212 00:10:58.919 --> 00:11:02.080 race predicated thing, there are people who are not of 213 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:05.600 the Jewish race Sammy Davis Junior, who can become Jews 214 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:08.159 by way of religion. It's a very difficult road to hoe. 215 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:12.080 But there's a sense of the race being a component 216 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:14.240 of being part of the Jewish faith as well, is 217 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.440 there not? Absolutely? 218 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.840 So. The technical word for it is it's an ethno 219 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:21.960 religious group. It's that combination of ethnicity and religion. And 220 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:24.080 we do as a Jewish people, we try to take 221 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:26.360 care of one another. Yeah, I mean, I don't only 222 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.840 care about Jewish people. I know a lot of people 223 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:32.879 beyond the Aws in my community. But but yeah, you 224 00:11:32.919 --> 00:11:35.399 take care of your family. That's that's a value in 225 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.720 our community, and that's been used against us of course 226 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:41.399 also at plenty of times that because we take care 227 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.320 of ourselves, there must be something wrong with that. 228 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:48.320 Well, and the insular sort of perception of that is, oh, 229 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:50.039 look at that. You know, they're not letting them buddy in. 230 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:52.720 You know, I want to slice that action. Well, you know, 231 00:11:52.759 --> 00:11:56.000 it's it's not that easy of a challenge to overcome. Yes, 232 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.360 you can become a member of the Jewish faith, but 233 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:02.000 I can't become a black person just I mean, because 234 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.759 of by virtue of who I am and where I 235 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.200 was born and where I came from. 236 00:12:06.600 --> 00:12:08.240 No, I mean, there's something, like I said, a little 237 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:12.080 bit unique about that Jewish identity that you can become 238 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.120 Jewish even if you're not originally part of the ethnic group, 239 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:15.480 so to. 240 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:19.440 Speak, I identify as a Jew. How's that I'll take it. 241 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:22.080 Rabbi GM We're gonna pause, take a minute early break, 242 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:24.440 because we're going to dive on into what the how 243 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:29.519 the situation unfolded and the rabbi's comments about the tragic 244 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.200 nature of how it unfolded, because it did take away 245 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.639 from the focus of the protest, which was the treatment 246 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:38.039 of I'm Aiman Solomon. One more time with Rabbi ri 247 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:43.559 Jun stick around fifty five KRC dot com. One more 248 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.840 time for the Channel nine first one forecast Heat Advisor 249 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.919 in effectial eight today because it's going to be hot 250 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.240 ninety two with the heat index of low hundreds and 251 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.960 some storms maybe after noon today, over Night muggy, partly cloudy, 252 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.879 low of seventy six. Tomorrow partly cloudy, hot, humid ninety 253 00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:59.679 four and a lowe hundred heat index muggy and partly 254 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:03.320 cliver night love seventy three and another cloudy. Scattered showers 255 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.519 and thunderstorms possible on Wednesday, but another heat day ninety 256 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.039 two for a high closed out at seventy seven times 257 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:09.840 for final traffic. 258 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:13.799 Chuck from the UCL Tramphic Center, UC healthwake loth Center 259 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:16.240 offers sergeic coy, m medico A, b CD care and 260 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.679 expertise called five month three nine three two sixty three 261 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:23.320 nine nine twenty two sixty three. Crews just cleared an 262 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.639 accident out of the way eastbound for Washington Way. All 263 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:29.759 vanes were blocked just a bit ago. Now you can 264 00:13:29.879 --> 00:13:33.480 make the ramp to Columbia Parkway and southbound four seventy 265 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.200 one southbound seventy five. 266 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.000 Slow's just a. 267 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:38.720 Bit out of black one. Chuck Ingram on fifty five KRC. 268 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:42.960 The talk station Hey forty seven Any forty eight fifty 269 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.159 five krc DE talk station g Briyan Thomas here with 270 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.639 Rebbi ri John. He wrote an op ed piece in 271 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:51.120 the Cincinna Inquired the other day U Robling Bridge protest 272 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:55.039 turned violent, overshadowed cause. Rabbit and I already talked about 273 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:58.200 the cause, which was the ice detention of a local 274 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:01.720 imum Aimon so them on by all accounts, you know, 275 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:04.720 the I've seen you great citizen benefit to the community, 276 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:08.759 a big bridge builder, et cetera. But things went awry 277 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.639 at the protests. The bridge was taken over and closed down, 278 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:16.000 which then resulted in the police apartment showing up. Braw 279 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:19.159 by your take on that, because that's all I remember. 280 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.799 If you'd ask me before our conversation today what the 281 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:24.399 Robling Bridge shutdown was all about, I wouldn't have been 282 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.960 able to remember. 283 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.200 No. I mean, people don't have any clue what the 284 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:33.799 cause is. It's the spectacle. This was so predictable of 285 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.639 a bad situation. That's part of what frustrates me about it, 286 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:40.240 which is that I you know, there were rumblings early 287 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:43.159 on that the goal here was to block the bridge. 288 00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:46.320 I think was the exact phrase folks were using, and 289 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.679 I did a little bit of digging on my own 290 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.360 to try to see has anyone pulled a permit as 291 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:55.720 this sanction, what's the plan here? And I wasn't able 292 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.039 to find any any evidence one way or another, And 293 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.559 that to me was a red lag enough that I 294 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:05.200 came to the vigil where faith leaders had gathered before 295 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.440 the folks walked onto the bridge, and I decided I 296 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.919 wasn't going on the bridge myself. 297 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.200 I kind of expect that of you, knowing you as 298 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.440 I do, I try. 299 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:17.159 To be reasonable. But look, even before people got onto 300 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:19.679 the bridge, it was already a mess. You know, you 301 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.559 had people who had been organizing, who were wearing high 302 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.720 vis vests and blocking traffic and things like that. No 303 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:29.559 police to be seen. So these were just you know, 304 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:32.759 the Burrier's entry was who can afford a high visvest? 305 00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:37.639 On Amazon? And it's a recipe for disaster. One of 306 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.519 the things about this that I think makes it pretty 307 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:44.159 striking is that, you know, some situations, everyone messed up, 308 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:49.240 and actually, I'll leave one group out. CINCINNATIPD did a 309 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:52.919 fabulous job of managing, you know, trying to restore traffic 310 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:55.399 and you know, stop people from blocking a bridge, which 311 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.840 is an act of civil disobedience and they have a 312 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:03.759 right to try to stop and dealing with the protesters effectively. 313 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:11.600 But the conflict between Covington PD and the protesters was awful. 314 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:14.440 One of those officers from Covington p D has been 315 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:17.840 placed on leave, I believe since because of the concerns 316 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.360 about what came out. And as someone who was there 317 00:16:21.559 --> 00:16:24.080 when people started coming off of the bridge, I had 318 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:28.559 a fellow clergy member who got back after being in 319 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.039 the midst of all of the conflict, and he didn't 320 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:32.399 know what it was about to happen. He had been 321 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:34.159 suckered into it, like a lot of people had been 322 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.639 kind of co opted who just thought they were there 323 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:39.559 to demonstrate properly. They figured, you know, permits had been 324 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:42.879 polled or whatever planning was supposed to have happened had happened. 325 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:46.000 So my clergy friend, who you know, he's wearing his 326 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:49.279 Roman collar and everything. So the police didn't do anything 327 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.000 to him, but he showed me a video right after 328 00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:53.279 the fact that he took on his phone and I 329 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:57.960 was I was appalled by what I saw. Meanwhile, you know, 330 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:02.159 the people trying to block the bridge, it's irresponsible, it's 331 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:04.680 reckless to pull people into a cause that they don't 332 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:07.559 understand fully and they don't know the risks of you 333 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:10.039 got to give people the you know, the information to 334 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:11.400 consent to that kind of thing. 335 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:15.200 They're engaged. Yeah, it's almost an incitement to mob violence. 336 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.119 You know, most people went there to do a peaceful protest. 337 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:21.079 The vigil, they supported this IMOM. That was the only 338 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:24.279 message they wanted to get across. Then when you invade 339 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:27.119 the bridge space, you take over the bridge, you block traffic, 340 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:32.440 obviously engaging in a crime. But I would it sounds 341 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:38.440 to me like the protest was invaded. And I've seen 342 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:42.359 these organized agitators. I mean they're all over in every instance. 343 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:44.519 You know, they're all dressed the same. Sometimes they're funded 344 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:48.039 by outside organizations. But it's as if and perhaps the 345 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:52.799 motive is to invite police over reaction. That's the image 346 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.440 they want to show and project to the rest of 347 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:56.160 the world. Has nothing to do with the condition of 348 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.880 the IMOM, has everything to do with the police. And 349 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:02.119 look at the brutality that's been unleashed here. That's the 350 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.559 visual moment they want. 351 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.799 I think that there is a good chance of that 352 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:08.319 that they were looking for the escalation, And like I said, 353 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:11.880 both groups probably are responsible here. Covington PD probably could 354 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:14.720 have handled this without as much escalation as occurred, and 355 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.759 the protesters weren't upset to have escalation. I mean, I 356 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.480 doubt they wanted to be injured in the way that 357 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:23.400 they were injured. They probably didn't enjoy it, but they 358 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:26.039 got the you know, they got the social media videos 359 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.079 that they probably were looking to create out of it. 360 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:32.519 So who loses all of the reasonable people who want 361 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:36.920 to see attention brought to a case that matters. Look, 362 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:41.039 I'm not opposed to civil disobedience within the right parameters. 363 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:44.079 You can choose to shut down a bridge, but their 364 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.880 consequences that are going to happen, and people need to 365 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.000 know what the consequences they've signed up for are. 366 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:51.039 But if they want to shut the bridge down, they 367 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:54.720 have to understand that that is going to invite perhaps 368 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:58.599 a reaction they don't want. This is no longer about 369 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:02.960 discussing the issues and ICE's treatment of the IMOM. It's 370 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.759 about people reacting to the bridge being shut down. So 371 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:08.960 you might have some otherwise sympathetic people to your message, 372 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.319 but then we all get pissed off when roads are 373 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.240 shut down and the traffic's backed up, and we hear 374 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.559 about the EMS vehicle who couldn't get through with the 375 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.720 you know, the the close to death injured victim, and 376 00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:20.039 all these horror stories come out. 377 00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:22.160 No, I think you use the word infiltrators, and you 378 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:24.440 have these these bad actors who try to take over 379 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:28.640 other causes and they turn people off. Yes, and I 380 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.279 have no patience for it. I don't think any of 381 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:32.960 us should have patients for people who try to take 382 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.640 what should be a peaceful setting and turn it into 383 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.880 a sideeshit of good attention for their own thing. 384 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:40.480 Yeah, and I really do believe that's what's going on, 385 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:44.200 and it's a widespread reality. And let's face it ain't 386 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:47.640 nothing like social media to bring that reality up very easily. 387 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:50.359 You put us posts out there, somebody's going to show 388 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:51.680 up right one hundred percent. 389 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.960 And this is an example of that. 390 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.400 Red by Ari John. It is such a pleasure having 391 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:57.039 you in studio to talk about this, and you know, 392 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.119 I mean it's a message for all groups out there. 393 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:01.200 If you're going to organize some activities, you need to 394 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:04.079 be painfully aware that you might have some of these 395 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.880 outside agitators come in and ruin the point of your message. 396 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.559 You need to be calm, cool and collected and don't 397 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:14.119 follow the quote unquote heard into the street if that's 398 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:16.200 not what you're about. If you want to engage in 399 00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:19.000 that type of protest, recognize there are going to be consequences, 400 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:21.599 but in the final analysis, it's probably not going to 401 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.599