BLACK Lives Matter protesters clashed with Trump supporters during a protest to defend a black family targeted with racist attacks. Activist group Detroit Will Breathe organized a protest in Warren, Michigan on Saturday for the Hall family, who were targeted with “hate crimes” earlier this month, according to police. At the same time across the […]
BLACK Lives Matter protesters clashed with Trump supporters during a protest to defend a black family targeted with racist attacks.
Activist group Detroit Will Breathe organized a protest in Warren, Michigan on Saturday for the Hall family, who were targeted with “hate crimes” earlier this month, according to police.
At the same time across the street, a Back the Blue rally occurred where people held Trump 2020 flags.
Protesters from both sides shouted abuse at each other, The Detroit News reported.
One woman, who was not part of Detroit Will Breathe, walked over to the Trump supporter’s side holding a flag.
Several men tried to take it out of her hands, pulling her to the ground.
“There’s a lot of things going on that are trying to blame each side because they want us in a civil war…” said Ellis Seals, a Detroit woman on the Trump supporter side.
“We don’t want to fight, we want to unite,” she added.
During the march, protesters walked through main roads and side streets and argued with drivers over getting out of the road.
The march had a police escort from state and Warren police.
According to The Detroit News, residents left their homes and chanted “Trump” while yelling at marchers to take off their masks.
“What does Trump have to do with this…because of what happened to us, why are you here doing that?” Eddie Hall said. “If anything we should be supporting each other.”
The march lasted more than two hours and had roughly 250 participants.
Tristan Taylor, a Detroit Will Breathe organizer, called on local officials to take responsibility for racist policies.
“There has to be a spectacular amount of racism that you have to have in your body to try and demonstrate against a rally defending a black family whose house got shot up,” he said.
Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer called Saturday’s events a “very peaceful protest.
“Which obviously under the First Amendement they have that right,” he said. “And our task is to maintain a safe environment for all.”
He reportedly confirmed the altercation between the two groups and revealed there were no injuries or arrests.
One protester in the march traveled from Portland to express their support for the Hall family.
“It’s not just about me and my husband or our children but it’s about each and every one of us so that we can live neighbor to neighbor…” Candace Hall said.
“We don’t believe in hate or violence or any of that, we just want to be able to live peacefully among our neighbors.”
The Hall’s home was attacked between September 7-9 when someone fired shots at the house and later threw a large rock through the front window of the home.
According to police, someone additionally slashed the tires on the family’s car and drew a swastika on it along with “terrorist Black Lives Matter”, “not welcome” and “get the f*** out.”
Police also recovered six 9mm shell casing from the Hall’s house and have a grainy video of a man walking around the side of the house.
There was another incident last week in the same neighborhood and while police believe it was done by the same suspect, they say it was not racially motivated but “provoked by political signs” as the homeowner is white.
Commissioner Dwyer has said finding the suspect is the number one priority for the department.
“We’re putting all our resources into that,” he said. “I feel very confident that person will be arrested very soon.”
Police are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
