A growing divide between two sides of a national debate was on local display.
A small group of Clarion University students in support of racial justice and in opposition to police brutality marched down Main Street in Clarion early Tuesday afternoon. Some participants carried signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Meanwhile, at Clarion County Veterans Memorial Park, another small group that included a couple of people who were seen carrying handguns gathered to ensure monuments would be protected against possible damage.
Henshawe said there is a substantial lack of knowledge about the movement.
“I think there’s a big misconception with the Black Lives Matter movement – that it’s a violent thing, but its not,” he said. “We’re just peaceful protesters trying to get our message across.”
Another student, Megan Martin, agreed it’s important to note “our protest is completely peaceful, we’re not violent and I believe it’s unfair to associate us with that.”
Henshawe said his group’s protest was independent and not affiliated with any groups or organizations. However, the same themes and emotions that dominated other similar protests were at play in Clarion.
“This is a protest for a social reason, so black people are treated fairly around the country,” student Kaison Branch said. “There shouldn’t be any injustice because of their skin color.”
Student Cynthia Baughman said the Clarion community needs protests like this one.
“In a small town, were stuck in the same mindset,” she said. “It’s important to express different ideas in the community.”
Baughman dismissed the idea that the timing of their protest – in the early afternoon of a weekday – was unusual.
“It’s an odd time to be oppressing people, too,” she said.
Student Justin Snyder said “nobody’s here to damage monuments” during the protest, which was scheduled to go on all day and into the evening.
The route of the protest took marchers along Main Street, from their meeting place outside a business to their information table in front of the Clarion County Library and finally to the corner of Fifth Avenue. They then crossed the street and made their way back.
The marchers said they didn’t intend to go to the park, but a group of people gathered at the park’s gazebo to protect the monuments.
“The information that we received said the monuments were at threat,” Botelho said.
Although the student protesters had no intention of heading to the park, Botelho said “as a contingency plan” it was important for the group to be there.
Botelho said he respects the Black Lives Matter movement’s right to protest, but that vandalizing monuments is unacceptable.
“They have the right to protest – a First Amendment right – we have no issue with that at all,” Botelho said. “When words become actions, though, we have a problem with that.”
Some of the group’s members said the nation’s heritage and history are at stake during this divisive time, and that focus on monuments deemed as racist symbols is an affront to the nation.
“It’s all our heritage and all our history,” Botelho said.
Another member of the group, who chose to only be identified as Bob, said, “We’re here to protect our heritage and our community.
“It’s a simple fact. We have to protect America. United we stand and divided we fall. We’re here to protect our monuments. There’s nothing more to be said.”