'Still recovering': Cincinnati brawl victim Holly speaks breaks silence; shares suffering brain trauma after viral attack
Holly, a key victim in the violent Cincinnati street brawl that went viral over the weekend spoke out for the first time after the incident, describing the lasting impact of her injuries and thanking the public for their overwhelming support.
The brutal incident occurred early Saturday morning in downtown Cincinnati when a man was chased into the street, thrown to the ground, and beaten by a crowd. As bystanders recorded the attack, one individual body-slammed the man while others kicked and stomped him.
In an attempt to help, Holly rushed to the scene—but was punched twice in the face. She fell hard to the pavement, striking her head and bleeding from the mouth as onlookers continued to cheer.
Video of the assault quickly spread online, sparking outrage.
Appearing in a video update on Sunday with visible facial bruising, Holly described the ordeal as harrowing. 'It's been very, very hard, and I'm still recovering,' she said. 'I still have very bad brain trauma.'
A single mother, Holly thanked the public for their continued prayers and support. 'I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for all of the love and support.
It is very humbling… It's definitely what's keeping me going, and you have just brought back faith and humanity.'
She is one of six people injured in the brawl, and so far, police have arrested four suspects while two more remain at large.
Jermaine Matthews, 39, Dominique Kittle, 37, Montianez Merriweather, 34, and Dekyra Vernon, 24, have been charged in connection with the incident. Kittle, Merriweather, and Vernon remain in Hamilton County Jail, while Matthews has been released on bond, reported Fox News.
Matthews faces multiple charges including two counts of felonious assault, misdemeanor assault, and aggravated riot. Merriweather and Vernon are also charged with felonious assault, aggravated riot, and assault. Kittle is facing a single count of assault.
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said on Monday that he spoke with Holly and criticised the lack of police presence during the attack. "It's unconscionable that there were no police present in that area of Cincinnati on a Friday night, or even an ambulance to take her to the hospital,' Ramaswamy wrote on X.
'Hard-working Americans shouldn't have to worry for their safety when they have a good time in our cities," he added.
Vice President JD Vance also condemned the violence, saying he was appalled by footage showing "a grown man who sucker punched a middle-aged woman."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
21 minutes ago
- News18
Vivek Ramaswamy Slams 'Anti-Law Culture' After Cincinnati Assault Goes Viral US News
Presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has spoken out strongly after a disturbing violent brawl in downtown Cincinnati went viral. During a town hall event, Ramaswamy criticized what he called an 'anti-law enforcement culture' sweeping across America and called the group assault of a single mother 'unconscionable.'The incident, which was caught on video, shows three individuals brutally beating a woman in a public area. Cincinnati Police have since arrested and charged the suspects with assault and aggravated a Cincinnati native, used the platform to demand stricter enforcement of public safety, calling on Americans to reject the erosion of law and video includes Ramaswamy's full town hall remarks, a timeline of the assault, official updates from law enforcement, and broader political reactions to rising urban violence. News18 Mobile App -
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Tougher checks for marriage-based Green Cards: US issues fresh guidelines to detect fraud- All you need to about the new policy
Representative image The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), introduced a significant update to its Policy Manual, specifically targeting marriage fraud in family-based immigrant visa petitions. The critical update to its Policy Manual titled 'Family-Based Immigrants', released August 1, is designed to ensure that only genuine relationships, particularly bona fide marriages, qualify for lawful permanent resident (green card) status in the US. This measure aims to prevent fraudulent applications and strengthen the integrity of the immigration process. The USCIS stated that thorough verification processes will be implemented to assess the authenticity of relationships submitted for immigration purposes. Why did this policy come into place? The USCIS took this firm stance in response to rising concerns that "fraudulent, frivolous, or otherwise non‑meritorious" immigration applications are undermining public confidence in family-based immigration and posing national security risks. USCIS explicitly stated its commitment to "robust alien screening and vetting that protects Americans from potential national security threats" and to "detecting aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the US." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Donating Sperm May Boost Your Income SpellRock Undo Additionally, there have been cases involving Indian nationals caught in marriage fraud. According to a recent release by the US Attorney's Office, in May 2025, Indian national Aakash Prakash Makwana pleaded guilty to marriage fraud. He overstayed his J-1 visa, arranged a fake marriage with a US citizen, fabricated rental and utility records to feign cohabitation, and falsely claimed domestic abuse to obtain a green card. Upon being convicted of marriage fraud, an individual faces significant prison time, fines, and deportation. Enhanced screening and vetting procedures The updated policy mandates more comprehensive evidence of bona fide marriages, including photographs, financial documents, and affidavits from acquaintances. Couples may face rigorous interviews to verify the authenticity of their relationship. The USCIS will scrutinize any history of multiple applications by a US citizen for different spouses or prior applications for the same beneficiary, flagging them for detailed investigation. USCIS may issue a Notice to Appear if the beneficiary is found removable due to ineligibility or fraudulent intent. Additionally, according to an earlier report, marrying a US citizen or green card holder no longer guarantees a smooth path to a green card. Immigration interviews are now stricter, with officers demanding more proof of a genuine relationship- from photos and call logs to joint finances and shared plans. Spouses abroad face rigorous consular interviews, while those in the US may be called for 'Stokes interviews,' where couples are questioned separately. Long wait times, especially for green card holder spouses, raise additional red flags. Immigration lawyers advise treating the process like an exam: prepare thoroughly, bring evidence, and be ready for personal questions. A weak case could mean denial — or even deportation proceedings. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- The Hindu
U.S. DOJ to open grand jury probe into Obama officials, source says
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury probe into allegations that members of Democratic former President Barack Obama's administration manufactured intelligence on Russia's interference in the 2016 elections, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday (August 4, 2025). The Justice Department said late last month it was forming a strike force to assess claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about "alleged weaponization of the U.S. intelligence community." Republican U.S. President Donald Trump has leaped on comments from Ms. Gabbard in which she threatened to refer Obama administration officials to the Justice Department for prosecution over an intelligence assessment of Russian interference. Fox News first reported that Ms. Bondi personally ordered an unnamed federal prosecutor to initiate legal proceedings and the prosecutor is expected to present department evidence to a grand jury, which could consider an indictment if the Justice Department pursued a criminal case. The report cited a letter from Ms. Bondi and a source. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment. Last month, Mr. Trump accused Mr. Obama of treason, alleging, without providing evidence, that the Democrat led an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump won the 2016 election against Democrat Hillary Clinton. A spokesperson for Mr. Obama had denounced Mr. Trump's claims, saying "these bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction." Ms. Gabbard had declassified documents and said the information she released showed a "treasonous conspiracy" in 2016 by top Obama officials to undermine Mr. Trump, claims that Democrats called false and politically motivated. An assessment by the U.S. intelligence community published in January 2017 concluded that Russia, using social media disinformation, hacking, and Russian bot farms, sought to damage Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and bolster Mr. Trump, who won that election. The assessment determined the actual impact was likely limited and showed no evidence that Moscow's efforts actually changed voting outcomes. Russia has denied it attempted to interfere in U.S. elections.
