CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A Tri-State campaign with ties to the Cincinnati Bengals is hoping to spread unity during challenging times.
Within the last year, the Tri-state has endured difficult moments of divisiveness.
Back in February, a Neo-Nazi demonstration on the Interstate 75 overpass in Lincoln Heights launched multiple investigations and business boycotts.
KKK flyers have been spotted in neighborhoods in the months since.
Just recently, the downtown brawl drew political optics and flared racial tension.
After these events, Daronce Daniels, who cofounded The Heights Movement in 2017, said he wanted to do more.
“If we could take what we’ve done here and focus on residents and focus on what the community needs and replicate that throughout Hamilton County, maybe we can get around some of the differences we have amongst one another,” Daniels said.
Last month, the Bengals announced The Heights Movement was the winner of the 2025 Earn Your Stripes contest.
The contest is aimed at promoting minority-owned businesses in the Tri-State area.
Daniels said he saw this as his opportunity to promote unity.
“When you walk into Paycor Stadium and look at the top banners, you’ll see ‘No hate in the Heights,’ ‘No hate in Hamilton County,’” Daniels explained.
The banners also display a QR code to The Heights Movement’s online campaign combating racism.
You can sign the campaign, volunteer for community events, or make donations that will go toward securing jobs for youth across Hamilton County.
Daniels said if you do any of these things, you’ll be entered into a drawing for free Bengals tickets for home games.
“Just the pure hate, we don’t want any of that here,” Daniels emphasized. “We are a community of unity, a community of love. We might have our differences, but we know how to deal with them, and what better way to talk about our differences than at a football game.”
Daniels said this seasonal partnership with the Bengals is a huge win for the Tri-State.
“It’s one thing when we cheer for them,” said Daniels. “It always feels like the community is giving to the Bengals, whether it’s through Hamilton County and the stadium or through us buying tickets. It shows the Bengals really do see us and provide us a platform and say, ‘Hey, how do we want to transform our communities?’ It’s a powerful piece.”
Daniels said the ticket winners are announced on the Sunday before each home game.
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