CINCINNATI — Non-stop protests throughout the nation, and here in Ohio, have led to arrests and some dangerous close calls. With more protests expected throughout the summer, there are new questions surrounding when protesting could cross the line.
One after another "No Kings" protesters poured into the streets across the country and spoke out. They yelled things like "No Trump, no kings, no KKK."
Joel Pruce was one of them.
“It filled my soul singing and chanting and families and old people and young people of all stripes being out there to exercise their voice," said Pruce.
But Pruce is not just any protester; he’s an assistant professor at University of Dayton’s Human Rights Center. He teaches about the constitutional right to protest.
“That protection is very robust, we are free to call people out. We are free to interrupt and disrupt business as usual. The purpose of protest and dissent is to disrupt, is to send signals of opposition and so if that means interrupting traffic, then that might mean interrupting traffic," said Pruce.
That’s exactly what happened on a bridge near Cincinnati back in February, except the protestors were part of a neo-Nazi hate group protest who set up along a bridge that connects to a historically Black neighborhood. They were wearing masks, carrying guns and, investigators said, yelling racial slurs.
“We can be as gross and odious and disgusting as we want to be with our speech, and that’s what these neo-nazi’s were doing," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich.
Pillich said that kind of speech only crosses the legal line of law at violence or the threat of it.
“The answer to that is when a reasonable person would indicate that these words are meant to incite someone to action," said Pillich.
The hate group was forced out and no one was hurt or charged with anything.
But in Butler County, multiple protests were breaking out at the county jail over immigration and ICE arrests.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said he supports protesters rights.
“I don't have any problem. I've protested in my lifetime. I've marched and held signs," said Jones.
But protesters were calling on the sheriff to stop housing the hundreds of ICE detainees in the jail.
“Well good luck. If I don't take them, somebody else is going to take them," said Jones.
Joel pruce said no matter if protests change anything, it’s worth it.
“We can't always control the way things go but it is essential that we be in the fight," said Pruce.