Offensive demonstrations cause outrage in Summit County
While the bridge is in Boston Heights, it is a part of a Summit Metro Parks hike-bike trail, so it is Metro Parks property.
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During the late June demonstration, Boston Heights police, as well as Metroparks rangers, responded after five or six people were on the bridge attaching an offensive sign to fencing on the bridge.
'We responded on scene and we asked them to remove the signs from the bridge because it is on Metroparks and we don't allow anything to be affixed to any type of structure. They can hold them, but they can also not impede bike traffic or people walking or jogging on our bike paths as well,' Metroparks Chief John Hamblen said.
Boston Heights police said the demonstrators were asked for their identification, but they would not comply. They also say that the group was 'peaceful,' so officers did not interfere with their demonstration.
'As long as they are being peaceful and not being disorderly or disruptive to other park users, then they are not committing any type of violation,' Hamblen said.
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On Saturday, a smaller number of them returned with an antisemitic message.
On social media, news of the demonstrations triggered outrage. People decrying the message and the messengers include Democratic Ohio State Senator Casey Weinstein of Hudson.
Weinstein wrote on Facebook after the June demonstration, 'I strongly condemn this vile display of hatred and cowardice by these pathetic masked Nazis who protested in our district. Their presence is a direct threat to our shared values of equality, decency, and unity….'
Saturday's demonstration triggered a counter demonstration on Sunday by a group calling itself the 'Burning River Brigade.'
'Many vehicles are honking and waving. We have had a few flip us the bird, which tells you that we are a divided nation, but we will stand up for what we believe,' Becky Morgan said.
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Weinstein was among those crediting the counter-demonstration. But police said the messages, however offensive, are protected by the First Amendment.
'It's not against the law to write on a board or a sheet or whatever you are carrying as long as you don't block user traffic,' Hamblen said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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