The cities of Covington and Newport have put curfews on Sunday evening through Monday morning as cities across the country, including Cincinnati, are hit by unrest related to the police killing of African Americans.
A protest outside Covington Police Headquarters on 20th Street and Madison Avenue was largely uneventful compared to some riot and looting that has taken place elsewhere. Cincinnati has seen consecutive days of protests and property damage.
In Louisville, demonstrations also turned violent.
Newport issued a curfew late Sunday afternoon that required people to stay indoors from 9:00 p.m. Sunday to 4:00 a.m. Monday, with the exception of health care workers, pharmacies, and those on their way to or from work. There was no end date for the curfew.
Covington’s order came later that evening and is for Sunday through Monday and Monday evening through Tuesday. Covington curfew is 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days.
Citing the need to protect residents and the city, Mayor Joe Meyer signed an ordinance late in the evening to introduce the curfew.
“Given that the neighboring cities of Cincinnati and Newport have taken similar action, and we’ve seen people from out of town come to Covington this afternoon, we felt it wise to act,” Meyer said.
The curfew gives police “enhanced enforcement powers and security resources to protect the lives and property of those who live, work and do business in Covington,” the regulation says.
Meyer said the curfew is not intended to silence protests, but rather to keep them from becoming destructive.
The curfew does not apply to Covington City officials, public safety officials, emergency services, health professionals, key workers, people living in the homeless and local government officials performing their legal obligations, an announcement said.
It expires on Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. and is city-wide.
-Michael Monks, Editor & Publisher
Photo: A protest outside Covington Police Headquarters on Sunday (Brian Frey / RCN)
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