Cincinnati CityBeat Reporter Madeline Fening Arrested While Covering Peaceful Protest for Imam Ayman Soliman, Facing Felony Riot Charge
Jul 18, 2025
The protest on Thursday night started after a vigil was held at The Bank’s in Cincinnati by several organizations and multiple of the area’s local faith leaders. The march was in protest of the detention of Former Cincinnati Children's Hospital chaplain Imam Ayman Soliman by ICE agents on July 9, 2025.
As the march started over the Roebling Suspension Bridge a driver in a black SUV with out of state plates pushed through the crowd, even as members of the protest in bright yellow vests attempted to stop the vehicle from plowing through the crowd.
This initial incident led to cops being called regarding the SUV, but when they arrived they set up in the center of the bridge as protestors marched forward. The officers ordered protestors onto pedestrian walkways along the bridge, then instantly started making arrests with to no time to comply with orders.
Police deployed pepper spray, non-lethal projectiles, tazers and a police K9 onto the bridge. Some that followed the orders were also grabbed from the pedestrian walkways and arrested in violent fashion, with several officers assaulting protestors repeatedly in the face.
Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard CEO of Urban Native Collective said she was at the march with her 9-year-old child.
"To doubt that it was anything but a peaceful demonstration is abhorrent," she said. "The escalation was not brought on by faith leaders and elders in the community, who were peacefully walking. The escalation was by the police."
Ignite Peace issued a statement condemning the violent response from law enforcement.
“Ignite Peace believes we can build a nonviolent society, and during the vigil we stood with people who believe that we are in difficult times, that we can be brave, and that we must demonstrate and deepen this solidarity and commitment to nonviolence," Executive Director Shannon Hughes said in the statement. "We are heartbroken by the police violence that occurred after the vigil, and the inappropriate force with which peaceful marchers were met. We need to heal, and to practice care for our community in our ongoing work toward justice and peace.”
The initial confrontation between police and protestors can be seen in this video with many saying the lack of deescalation by Covington Police department being the major problem.
A Kenton County Judge started arraignment proceedings earlier today for the 13 arrested in connection with the protest, including Cincinnati CityBeat reporter Madeline Fening who was on assignment. Arrests also included an assistant librarian at the University of Cincinnati, Suzanne Bratt in connection to last nights protest.
Bail fund information can be found here.
Covington Police department arrested 13 people in total according to their release, the charges included “RIOT - 1ST DEGREE, UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY, DISORDERLY CONDUCT - 2ND DEGREE, OBSTRUCTING EMERGENCY RESPONDER VIOLATIONS - 1ST DEGREE, OBSTRUCTING A HIGHWAY, and FAULURE TO DISPERSE”