Multiple videos of an apparent Friday night Cincinnati crowd surfaced Saturday morning, depicting groups not following social distancing rules.

The recorded gathering occurred two days after Gov. Mike DeWine extended Ohio's stay-at-home order through May 1.

A YouTube video shows a man narrating, boasting the number of viewers watching his live feed.

"This is how we do it in my city, man," he says. "We don't give a f*** about this coronavirus."

The group can be seen dancing and listening to music outside of what appears to be the Shell gas station on East Liberty Street.

"This is how we celebrate our coronavirus," the man says in the video.

[ This story is being provided for free to our readers during the new coronavirus outbreak. Consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Enquirer at cincinnati.com/subscribe. ]

Cincinnati Police responded to the post Saturday afternoon, stating they are aware of the gathering and that an investigation is underway.

"Cincinnati Officers did respond to this gathering. We are exploring various options for addressing this incident as well as possible future incidents of this nature, to include fines and physical arrest if necessary. We will enforce the laws and orders which prohibits social gatherings," police said.

We are calling on every citizen to condemn the actions of those who gathered last night through social media and for those closest to the people disregarding this Stay At Home order to contact them and demand they discontinue such behavior for the safety and well being of all Cincinnatians.



The Cincinnati Police Department and the City of Cincinnati want to emphasize the importance of social distancing as the community works to combat this public health crisis.

The gathering underscores concerns state and local officials have expressed about the need for people to practice social distancing. In Monroe, Mayor Jason Frentzel on Thursday sent a letter to the leadership at Solid Rock Church, pleading with the church to cancel its Sunday morning services. Church officials have told The Enquirer they are having members of their congregation practice social distancing inside the church and are disinfecting their facilities before and after services.

A video posted by Robert Anthony on Facebook at around 8:30 a.m. Saturday garnered over 150 comments and over 70 shares within three hours.

"It be your own people. Smh Natural selection bout to kick in. Debate with Darwin," Anthony posted with the video.

The video shows more than 20 vehicles at a standstill and more than 20 mostly young people standing in the street, on the sidewalk and on top of cars, yelling.

One of the comments states the gathering occurred at the intersection of Liberty and Walnut streets in Over-the-Rhine.

At 10:35 a.m. Saturday Facebook user Deron Alan posted a longer YouTube video on the Greater Cincinnati Politics page.

That post erupted with more shares and comments.

"The government’s too worried about how many customers are in a grocery store and how close you’re standing to each other. They don’t have time to worry about urban youth having a street party on Friday night," Facebook user Clyde Parrish wrote.

"Poverty and systematic racism have taught these young people not to consider tomorrow – I do not condone this behavior, but walk a block in their shoes before judging so harshly," another user, Myron Hollister Haynes, wrote.

Cincinnati City Council Member Jeff Pastor said he was disappointed when he saw the video, calling it a "smack in the face" to first responders, nurses, doctors, restaurant workers, bus drivers and other essential workers and at-risk people.

"To give them a fighting chance, keep your a** in the house," Pastor said.

This is coming from someone who believes strongly in civil liberties, Pastor said. He said his theoretical framework is being challenged in the midst of the pandemic and how he as a government official should respond.

"What can you do when experts are telling you that this issue is unlike any other that we've faced before?" he said.

[ Get breaking news related to the novel coronavirus by downloading the Cincinnati.com app ]