Sit-in Rallies Community Support

In response to a gay bashing at a Warren County business, University of Cincinnati students rallied together to visit the Mainville, Ohio restaurant in a peaceful protest, Tuesday, June 2.

Ronnie Roberston, 31, of Mainville, sustained a broken nose, cuts and scratches on his face. Two women, Sarah Goldsboro and Tammy Lingle, have been arrested and police expect two men will also be arrested in connection with the Tuesday, May 26, battery.

“We’re all Ronnie Robertson when something like that happens,” said Elizabeth Vallano, 33, of Cincinnati.

Approximately 100 people showed up to Tabby’s American Bar and Grill, all clad in white T-shirts to demonstrate peace and supporting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and allied communities.

Most of the protesters were young; approximately half were from UC, said Blake Jelley, a first-year sociology student.

“We walked in and the whole bar started clapping for us, surprisingly. It was pretty cool,” Jelley said. “The victim and his family showed up; he was very thankful we were all there.”

Aside from stares and several “asinine comments,” there were no negative implications from the protest, Jelley said.

Cody Globig, a first-year English student, agreed.

“All of [Tabby’s] staff was really supportive, it was a lot of fun,” Globig said. “It was a really

positive experience.”

Although the incident was not in direct connection to the university, the students said it was important to rally to show support.

“This could happen to any of us,” Jelley said. “We need to show our support, give it a presence. This is hurtful, damaging. Being peaceful and loving is the best way to counteract the violence.”

The owner of Tabby’s posted signs in the restaurant that read, “People from all walks of life enter this establishment and we like it that way. Expressions of bigotry or hatred will not be tolerated.”

The students emphasized peaceful protesting as a way to convey the message of togetherness and not tolerating acts of hate toward the LGBT community.

“A lot of people were questioning us, ‘Why did you support this business with your money after what happened?’ But this was way more successful than screaming and holding protest signs would have been. We were inside and that’s where he was beaten up after admitting he was gay. We are all queer or queer friendly interacting with the people there – it was a lot more impactful than standing outside, being segregated, and holding protest signs.”

Jelley and Globig are both members of Impact Cincinnati, a citywide LGBT group. Impact Cincinnati is usually at the forefront of Cincinnati protests including the Proposition 8 protest in November and the protest following the March gay bashing near UC’s Main Campus.

“We’ll do this every time,” Vallano said.

An increase in violent crime toward the LGBT community does have members of the Cincinnati community worried. The increase may be because of more violent acts committed or more people stepping forward to report incidents, Globig said.

“When I walk over to short vine and in that neighborhood across Jefferson where I park my car I’m very conscious of what I look like and how I’m appearing because I’m paranoid and I have some internal fear of what might happen,” Globig said.

For details on future events, search “Impact Cincinnati” on Facebook.