Advocacy group calls for boycott of pro-police rally

Posted on August 14, 2017

A rally in support of the Bloomington Police Department is scheduled for this afternoon outside city hall, but the local Black Lives Matter group is asking the public to boycott the event. (WJBC file photo)

By Maria Henneberry and Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – On the heels of national outrage regarding the Charlottesville, Va. demonstrations and the three deaths and injuries of 19 others, the McLean County group Black Lives Matter is calling out its disapproval of a Blue Lives Matter event scheduled for today in front of Bloomington city hall.

Black Lives Matter sent a letter to the police chief requesting he denounce the ‘blue’ rally to keep it from happening. The group calls the rally racist and questions the motive.

“Our city should never provide a platform for known racists and certainly should not allow it to happen in the name of police. Ever. But especially not in light of the events in Charlottesville this weekend,” the group said in a news release. The group calls out event organizers saying the event is being “organized and supported by local confederate-flag-toting white supremacists.”

The Blue Lives Matter rally is being organized independent of the police department and is intended to show support for law enforcement according to its related Facebook page. As of now on that page only a handful of people say they will be there with another few dozen interested.

The request to hold the Blue Lives Matter event was put in weeks ago before this past weekend’s tragedy in Charlottesville.

Bloomington Police Department Public Information Officer Elias Mendiola explained Bloomington police are aware of the event, but will only take action if the situation calls for it.

“As in the past, the Bloomington Police Department respects the First Amendment Rights for all groups to assemble in a respectful and peaceful manner,” Mendiola explained. “BPD is aware of the event and will respond appropriately if needed.”

View the information provided to WJBC by Black Lives Matter at this link: Black Lives Matter letters.

Maria Henneberry can be reached at [email protected].

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