Cincinnati City Councilwoman Victoria Parks is facing intense backlash after a Facebook comment—allegedly posted from an account linked to her—appeared to justify the brutal mob assault that took place in the city’s downtown area over the weekend.
“They begged for that beat down!” the account wrote under a post showing footage of the attack. “I am grateful for the whole story.”
The comment has gone viral, sparking demands for Parks’ resignation, condemnation from lawmakers, and outrage from the city’s law enforcement community.
Councilwoman Linked to Comment
The post originated from a Facebook account under Parks’ name, listing her current role as a Cincinnati City Council Member, and past positions including Hamilton County Commissioner and Chief of Staff to Commissioner Todd Portune—matching details from her official city biography.
Multiple social media accounts appear to be associated with Parks, but the one in question is active and publicly accessible, dating back several years.
State Rep. Phil Plummer: “She Must Resign Immediately”
“Cincinnati Councilwoman Victoria Parks must resign immediately!” wrote State Rep. Phil Plummer (R-OH) on X.
“Defending violent criminals who viciously beat innocent people is disgusting… Prosecutors must charge the attackers with a hate crime.”
Online users echoed the sentiment, calling her a “racist pig” and labeling the remarks “insane.”
Graphic Attack Sparked Outrage
The attack occurred early Saturday morning at Fourth and Elm Streets, where video footage shows a white man and woman being savagely beaten by a group of assailants.
The woman was knocked unconscious in the street, and the footage sparked national attention and an FBI investigation.
Parks’ Past Activism in Spotlight
On her official biography, Parks touts her record of progressive activism, including spearheading the declaration of “Racism as a Public Health Crisis” and introducing Juneteenth as a paid county holiday.
She announced in January that she will not seek reelection and plans to retire at the end of her term.
FOP President: “Unconscionable”
“It’s unconscionable that an elected official would be celebrating violence in the very city she was voted to serve,” said Ken Kober, president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police.
“This highlights the poor political environment that police officers, residents, and visitors are currently enduring.”
Kober called on voters to demand accountability, noting, “Thankfully, there’s an election in November.”
