‘They Begged for That Beatdown!’ Cincinnati Official Under Fire Over Wild Post on Brutal Attack Video

Cincinnati Councilwoman Victoria Parks sparked outrage after saying the victims in a viral video of a downtown brawl “begged” for a beatdown.

“They begged for that beat down!” the council member posted to Facebook on July 27. “I am grateful for the whole story.”

Jermaine Matthews, Montianez Merriweather, and Dekyra Vernon were all arrested on charges of felonious assault, assault, and aggravated riot this week after videos went viral showing brawls on the street in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. A total of five people have been charged over the fights, and police have said they expect more to follow.

In the July 26 video, downtown Cincinnati was crowded with thousands for multiple major events. One video showed a man in a white t-shirt being pushed to the ground and then beaten by multiple people. Another showed a woman being punched and seemingly knocked unconscious. The videos quickly spread on social media, with a number of conservative pundits calling the attacks racially motivated. Both of the mentioned victims were white.

The post Parks appeared to comment on was a video showing two men getting into fighting stances and things escalating and getting physical, though it does not show how the confrontation began.

The comment from Parks links to an active Facebook profile for the councilwoman. Parks previously announced in January that she will not be running for reelection. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Parks’s City Hall office was unlit and locked on Wednesday. WLWT meanwhile reported that they reached Parks and she stood by her comment.

Parks’s post has set off backlash, with some calling for her to step down.

“Here is a Cincinnati City Council member DOUBLING DOWN on blaming of the victims of this heinous crime. She should resign in disgrace,” Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) posted to X.

“Cincinnati Councilwoman Victoria Parks (D-Racist) says the victims of that brutal attack over the weekend got what they deserved. What say you, America?” Newsmax host Todd Starnes posted to Facebook.

Ohio State Rep. Phil Plummer (R) said Sparks should resign immediately in an X post.

“Cincinnati Councilwoman Victoria Parks must resign immediately! Defending violent criminals who viciously beat innocent people is disgusting. Her words ‘They begged for that beat down!’ are outrageous,” he wrote. “Prosecutors must charge the attackers with a hate crime. We must protect our streets!”

Watch above via Fox News.