Watch: Students storm Cincinnati Kroger store during anti-ICE protest, throw cans and bottles

A video showing a group of students creating chaos inside a Kroger grocery store in North College Hill, Cincinnati, during an anti-ICE protest has gone viral, drawing sharp reactions from authorities and the community.

The video, recorded by witness McAdrian Martin on Wednesday, shows dozens of students entering the store, shouting slogans against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and throwing beer cans and bottles toward the ceiling.

Some items reportedly struck store fixtures, while one customer was hit on the head by a projectile. The injury was not serious but left the customer visibly upset.

According to Martin, more than 50 students entered the store at once after walking out of school as part of a protest. “They were loud, disruptive, damaging property, and interfering with customers,” he said, adding that alcohol containers were ripped from shelves and thrown.

A store employee can be heard in the video ordering the students to leave immediately. Witnesses also reported seeing signs with anti-ICE slogans during the incident.

School district condemns behaviour

The North College Hill City School District described the video as “disturbing” and said it is working with local police to identify those involved.

Superintendent Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr. said the students would be held accountable for disorderly conduct. He also emphasized the role of families in addressing student behaviour, stating that responsibility should not fall solely on schools and teachers when incidents occur outside school premises.

What Police said

North College Hill Police acknowledged that students have a constitutional right to peaceful protest. However, officials said they intervened when the situation escalated and began affecting public safety and private property.

“Our primary role was to maintain order and ensure no one was placed at risk,” the department said in a statement. “When actions moved beyond peaceful expression, officers took steps to restore order.”

Police confirmed that two students were arrested during the protest, though the arrests were linked to a separate incident.

Community divided over accountability

The incident has sparked mixed reactions among residents. Some called for strict legal action against those responsible for damaging property and endangering customers, while others expressed support for the students’ right to protest, though not their actions inside the store.

Local councilmember Kathy Cureton said she supports peaceful demonstrations but stressed that vandalism and actions putting others at risk are unacceptable.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify individuals involved in the vandalism. The school district and police have reiterated that while peaceful expression is protected, destructive behaviour will face consequences.