On Saturday, July 11, hundreds of Black Lives Matter demonstrators and “Back the Blue” protestors gathered at the Capitol for their respective rallies. Unlike past weekends when protests were marked by direct confrontations between the groups and police intervening to keep them apart, Saturday’s event resulted in the start of a dialogue between the groups.
Following the conclusion of the Back the Blue protest, several smaller groups of pro-police and Black Lives Matter demonstrators began to talk. One of the groups were laughing together and chatting, another had a more tense dynamic, however they were still engaging productively. The groups seemed to bond over a mutual dislike for an agitator with a “Kanye For President 2020” sign who used a racial slur.
Members of both protests expressed disappointment over the combative nature of previous protests. Multiple members of the Back the Blue event made an effort to distance themselves from the armed agitators that interrupted the Black Lives Matter event on July 4.
After approximately half an hour, a larger gathering of over two dozen demonstrators representing both rallies formed. This group talked for well over an hour. Both sides seemed to express a desire to hear what the other side was saying and to share their own perspectives. The smaller groups within this larger one discussed gun policy, racism in all facets of American society, policing, police reforms, the statistics behind police brutality and more.
The dialogue did not end with these conversations, however. Several people in the group exchanged contact information and are planning to host a lunch, so that the discussions can continue.
Scenes from the conversations between Black Lives Matter and Back the Blue demonstrators about racism, policing, reform, police brutality and more. Photo by Eddy Binford-Ross
The Black Lives Matter Rally
These discussions happened as the Black Lives Matter event was wrapping up and following the conclusion of the Back the Blue rally. The Black Lives Matter event began around 1 p.m. and featured a variety of speakers. Over 100 people gathered in support on the Capitol Mall. The event included ASL interpreters similar to past events.
The event was called “War on Racism” and included much of the same messaging that other Black Lives Matter protests have highlighted. Speakers discussed the need to make sure that everyone present was civically involved. They urged people to vote and contact their elected officials on the school board, city council and in the Legislature.
“[Our elected officials] work for me, they work for all of you out there… And if they don’t, you take them to task,” Chris Young, a parent who helped clean the racist graffiti from McKinley Elementary last month, told the crowd.
Organizers highlighted that participants cannot solely rely on elected officials and encouraged participants to join the group “Save Our Selves [sic].” This group, run by one of the rally organizers, Gregg Simpson, is focused on self improvement and community growth. The group is open to anyone in the community and meets every Monday at 5 p.m.
Black Lives Matter demonstrators kneel to racist businesses during their rally on Saturday, July 11. Photo by Eddy Binford-Ross
One speaker, William Jones, led the demonstrators as they knelt to racist businesses. He encouraged demonstrators to be more purposeful in the businesses they support. Jones also told them to buy products from companies that reinvest in communities and support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The biggest underlying theme of the speeches was that of unity. Dre Miller, one of the organizers of the Portland protests, discussed unity within the Black Lives Matter movement. He told the crowd about how he was working to create connections with people leading the movement across the state and was finding ways to support their specific city’s demands. Miller told those gathered how important it was to support others in the movement, especially youth organizers.
“This is a youth movement. This is all about the youth,” Miller said.
Julianne Jackson, another organizer of the rally, discussed uniting the Black community with other oppressed people. Jackson told the crowd that the oppression of People of Color, people who identify as LGBTQIA and impoverished people are linked. She said that they continue to be oppressed because it is “profitable.” Jackson highlighted the importance of the movement being intersectional and including all voices from the Black community.
“Division is a tool used by the oppressor,” Jackson told the crowd.
Simpson included in his speech talk of unity as well. He told the crowd that there is “power in unity.” He added that unity also means focusing on the messaging of the Black Lives Matter movement and not creating conflict with counter-protestors. Simpson told the demonstrators that yelling at the other side does not create change.
Minor Confrontation
As the Black Lives Matter protest was going on, protestors gathered for the Back the Blue rally. They began to arrive hours before the event was scheduled to begin and stood on the sidewalk by the Capitol.
They faced Court Street and held signs expressing their support and appreciation for law enforcement officers. Protestors also flew the thin blue line American flags, regular American flags and Trump flags. They cheered as cars passed flying these same flags during a car march and chanted, “Back the blue.”
A little before 2 p.m., Black Lives Matter protestors left their rally and gathered on the other side of Court Street. Organizers told protestors to yell “Fix the police” not “F*** the police.” The protestors responded with chants of “ACAB. All cops are bastards.”
The Back the Blue protestors and Black Lives Matter demonstrators began to yell at each other and several from each side began to move closer together on the street. A few Black Lives Matter demonstrators fully crossed the street and attempted to form a wall in front of the Back the Blue protestors. They were yelled at by both people from the pro-police rally and by their own organizers who pulled them back.
An agitator showed up with a “Kayne for President 2020” sign, a “Black Lives Matter too” sign and a thin blue line shirt. He used a racial slur towards one of the Black Lives Matter demonstrators and began to kneel in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. The Back the Blue protestors physically removed him and yelled at him.
Most of the conflict died down when the Back the Blue protestors went to their rally on the steps. However, small groups on both sides remained and continued to yell at one another, as Black Lives Matter organizers continue to tell them to disengage. The conflict did not fully die down until the Back the Blue protestors left for their march.
Back The Blue Rally
The Back the Blue rally was organized by Joey Nations. Nations is an analyst for the state of Oregon and has run for Representative of Oregon’s 5th Congressional District twice. He ran on a campaign of “America First” and lost both times in the Republican primaries.
Approximately 100 people gathered at the rally. Unlike past weekends, this group was not visibly armed, however, there was a gun raffle being held. The event opened with a prayer.
Following the prayer, Jim Cropper sang a song he wrote that was in honor of law enforcement officers. The song, titled “God Bless the Blue,” was met by applause from those gathered.
After the song, a woman spoke about what it was like to grow up with a police officer for a father. She told the crowd that not every police officer was good and her dad talked about this with her, but she also said that they deserve respect. She discussed how law enforcement is a necessity and that Americans should support them. Her speech was met with cheers.
Nations then spoke briefly about the importance of law enforcement before the group began a march to City Hall to demand that the City Council continue to fully fund the Salem Police Department. They marched along the sidewalks, instead of through the streets.
They stopped briefly at the War Memorial in Willson Park as Nations spoke about how supporting law enforcement goes hand in hand with honoring veterans. He justified this by explaining that many police officers are veterans.
When they arrived at City Hall, the Back the Blue protestors gathered on the plaza for more speeches. The man who disrupted the Black Lives Matter event with his megaphone two weekends prior spoke. He discussed how they were on the right side of history.
Nations also spoke at City Hall. He talked about the importance of electing conservatives to all positions, the school board, city council and legislature. He told the demonstrators that this was all necessary because “Communism is [the left’s] end goal.”
Nations told those gathered that both parties were corrupt until Trump “shook things up.” He went on to say that more people like Trump were needed in the government.
“The Republicans need patriots that will step up and transform it into the people’s party,” Nations told the crowd.
After he spoke a teacher took the mic and said that the Black Lives Matter movement was the result of indoctrination in the school system. She said that Oregon’s schools were inadequate and that they should not be discussing things like white privilege in the schools.
Following a chant of “We back the blue” for a video and a prayer the protestors headed back to the Capitol. Many left at this point, although some stayed at the Capitol and ended up participating in the discussions which began when they returned.
David’s Tent
The entire time that these events were unfolding, “David’s Tent” was set up inbetween the Back the Blue and Black Lives Matter demonstrators. David’s Tent is a 24/7, weeklong worship service that is held at the Capitol each year.
They had a tent set up on the mall and the songs from the service could be heard in the background throughout the afternoon. There were a few dozen people gathered for the service on Saturday. They mostly remained removed from the rallies, however, some joined in the discussions at the end of the events.
