Rodney Hinton Trial

Rodney Hinton Jr seeing a supporter making a heart with their hands

Rodney Hinton Jr’s trial begins on April 16th. He is currently being held in Clermont county jail facing charges of aggravated murder and felonious assault. Hinton Jr is alleged to have struck and killed a police officer with his car shortly after watching footage of his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, being shot in the back and killed by a CPD officer earlier that day. He will not, however, face the death penalty as the judge presiding over the case has thrown it out, citing mental illness. His defense argues that he was not in his right mind at the time of the incident. The officer who killed his son, whose identity has still not been made public, got away without facing the public for the murder of Ryan or disciplinary action from CPD. 

Cincinnati Socialists reaffirms its solidarity with Rodney Hinton Jr, the Hinton family, and all victims of police brutality. The police, and CPD particularly, is a racist and terroristic entity with a long history of murdering Black people. CPD is utterly incapable of holding itself accountable for the turmoil it wreaks on the people of Cincinnati. It is perhaps this very lack of accountability that may have led Rodney Hinton to —in his own way— make his own justice (though, ultimately, there is nothing that can bring this man’s child back to him). 

We demand the identity of the officer who executed Ryan Hinton be made public, and that he be brought to trial immediately. Furthermore, we support Rodney Hinton Jr and look forward to him winning his freedom, so that he may finally grieve the loss of his son in peace.