A BLM rally that was set to begin this evening in the city I currently live (Portland, Maine) was just called off by the organisers because they had received so many threats of violence from far-right militants and Trump Supporters (many of which verified by city police) and the city police, in connection with the city council, gave a press conference yesterday that essentially proactively “both sides” the demonstration and the potential consequences of it, alluding to the fact that they would protect both the BLM protestors’ and legally armed counter protestors‘ right to gather. From the BLM statement, the city and police’s claims they were working closely with the organisers were completely false.
It was set to happen two blocks from my flat at the police HQ (we live in the middle of the city)—I can literally step out of our building, walk 50 feet to the left, and stand on an embankment that gives me a vantage point to the plaza in front of the HQ and the major road intersection it rests on where there have been protests before. I actually have video of those protests that led to confrontations with the police and many arrests.
Given it was so publicised, even though the leadership will no longer be there, I have no doubt at all there will still be a gathering of BLM supporters and the armed counter protestors this evening and things will likely kick off this time, as well.
