JD Vance expressed strong concern over the recent violence in Cincinnati following a disturbing incident that took place after the Cincinnati Jazz Festival. Over the weekend, a man and woman were attacked by a group of individuals, prompting swift condemnation from the vice president.
Speaking in Canton, Ohio on Monday, Vice President Vance made clear what he believes should happen to the attackers.
“You had a grown man who sucker punched a middle-aged woman. That person ought to go to jail for a very long time – and frankly, he’s lucky there weren’t some better people around because they would’ve handled it themselves,” Vance said.
He continued by emphasizing the need for accountability.
“Take the thugs who engaged in that violence and throw their asses in prison,” Vance told a reporter.
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The incident raised questions about public safety and police presence. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval had acknowledged concerns about violence weeks earlier, speaking to local station WVXU in early July.
“We take very seriously public safety in our community,” Pureval said. “80% of our operating budget goes to public safety. So much of our time and kind of mental bandwidth is focused on public safety, particularly during the summer months.”
When asked about the root causes of the violence, the mayor pointed to economic hardship. “Obviously, the long term causes of violence are poverty — without question,” he stated.
As of Sunday afternoon, Mayor Pureval had not issued a statement about the latest attack. His official social media accounts had also remained silent.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge released a statement condemning the violence and distancing the incident from the Jazz Festival.
“I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen. The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable … Our investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm,” she said.
While the police department has committed to identifying those responsible, many continue to question the mayor’s silence on the matter.
Stay tuned to Patriot Culture Alert for any updates.
