by Sharelle B. McNair
July 30, 2025
The riot began after video confirmed a White man slapping a Black man, recognized as Montianez Merriweather, within the face.
After a vicious July 26 riot in Cincinnati between a gaggle of Black folks and white folks went viral, sparking dialog about racial rigidity, podcast host Brandon Tatum gave a unique opinion, stating the combat showcased the Black neighborhood’s alleged “hatred” for white folks.
Throughout a phase of Fox Information’ “The Will Cain Present,” the previous Tucson, Arizona, police officer, who’s Black, shared his ideas after it was revealed Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge claims the posted movies are being taken out of context and don’t paint your entire image. Tatum feels Theetge is “making an attempt to save lots of face with the Black neighborhood” and goes on to say her remarks wouldn’t exist if the roles within the combat have been reversed.
As soon as Cain agreed with that opinion, because the victims of the brawl have been white, Tatum says it’s time for folks to have a look at it for what it truly is — “racism visibly from the Black neighborhood.” “I’ve been Black my complete life, and I grew up in a Black neighborhood, and the hatred that Black folks have for white folks is simply…it doesn’t get spoken about sufficient,” the previous cop stated. “That’s why, if you see conditions like this, the place, clearly, not all people’s relations and so they’re simply beating the brakes off these white folks, it’s simply built-up, pent-up anger and hatred in direction of white folks.”
Movies on social media present a white man beginning the combat by slapping a Black man, recognized as Montianez Merriweather, within the face. Issues turned out of hand when one other assailant retaliated by punching the person. Shortly after, one other Black man, who was some ft away, jumped in to proceed the assault. It didn’t take lengthy for the white man to be overwhelmed down in the midst of the road.
In response to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Merriweather and two others, Dekyra Vernon and Jermaine Matthews, have been arrested and face prices, together with felonious assault and aggravated riot. Exterior of the racial divide dialog, the riot touched on security issues within the downtown Cincinnati space, as information highlights nearly double the quantity of burglaries and breaking-and-entering incidents in 2025 compared to 2024, and thefts from automobiles up to now this 12 months. There has additionally been an uptick in homicides, with the quantity being at 34, growing by 4 from final 12 months.
Feedback beneath the video push related narratives that Tatum showcased on Fox Information, however there isn’t a context or proof behind his opinion that Black folks have hatred towards white folks.
The podcast host is understood for his seemingly controversial rhetoric. After former Vice President Kamala Harris made her means as Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential marketing campaign, Tatum stated he “peed himself” when a Fox Information host was heard referring to Harris because the “unique ‘Hawk Tuah’ woman.”
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