From NY Post: The woman viciously pummeled in a viral Cincinnati brawl has returned home to Russia — as relatives of one of the attackers claim the brutal beatdown is only drawing national outrage because the victim is white, according to reports.
The female victim — identified as Holly by a US senator from Ohio — was left with a gruesome black eye, busted lip, and bruises covering her face and neck after being knocked out during the horrifying melee that erupted in the city’s downtown early Saturday, shocking footage and photos showed.
The viral footage showed what appeared to be Holly getting sucker-punched and knocked out cold, with blood pouring from her mouth as she lay defenseless on the ground after trying to intervene to help someone during the heinous rumble.
Holly is Russian, and after being released from the hospital, she returned to her home country, according to a Cincinnati Police Department spokesperson.
Holy was trying to intervene to help stop the violence when a bystander, identified as Dekyra Vernon by police, attacked Holly. Then another man punched her, knocking Holly out.
Meanwhile, Montianez Merriweather, 34, Jermaine Matthews, 39, were assaulting others. Police alleged they were the ones who coordinated the “ambush” attack.
As Merriweather was in court Thursday, his family member made an incredible statement.
“If it was an African American woman who got knocked out … We wouldn’t have been going through all this,” an unidentified relative told WLWT outside the courthouse.
The incredible statement drew outrage.
“The same could be said of a group of White men beating a lone Black man. That would draw just as much attention,” said an annonomous commenter. “Not only was the fight unfair, but it appears to be racially motivated.”
Desire Merriweather, the accused assailant’s cousin, insists Merriweather is not a “racist,” saying he has a biracial son.
In all, five people have been charged over the shameful street brawl. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said more arrests are expected.
“We have five we have charged, and anticipate more,” Theetge told reporters Monday.
BRUISED & BATTERED: Gruesome photos show damaged face of woman after horrifying Cincinnati brawl
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