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Rally to support police held in Cleveland, protesters hold counter event

Posted at 10:33 AM, Aug 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-08 19:21:20-04

CLEVELAND — Two conflicting events were held just a few blocks away from each other Saturday—a rally to support law enforcement and a protest against law enforcement.

Watch video from both events below:

The “Defend The Land, Defund The Police” peaceful protest and march began at 10 a.m. at the Free Stamp on Lakeside Avenue. The protest was organized in response to the rally being held in support of law enforcement.

"WE DO NOT SUPPORT A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT MURDERS CHILDREN. We do NOT support a police department that kills Black people by unloading multiple magazines into their cars! We do NOT support an organization that's hellbent on keeping Black lives, Latino lives, Trans lives, and working class lives down! We don't need reform, we need DEFUNDING & ABOLITION NOW!" the organizers wrote.

The rally to support law enforcement, “Back the Blue” police rally, began at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Lakeside Avenue and West 3rd Street.

Those attending the “Back the Blue” rally gathered at 10 a.m., the same time as the protest was set to begin.

The “Back the Blue” rally featured speakers and organizers encouraged those attending to “wear your thin blue line shirts, bring your American flags, bring your thin blue line flags, bring signs, and come join us!”