Youth BLM activists, anti-protesters gather in Westminster
Westminster youth held a “Youth Unite for Black Lives” protest Sunday afternoon, attracting a group of counter-protesters as well.
The Black Lives Matter march began in the Orchard Town Center at 12:30 p.m. before participants marched on West 144th Avenue over Interstate 25.
The BLM protesters called for the Adams County School District to address systemic racism in education, including the disproportionate rates of policing and expulsion of black students compared to white students.
About 100 protesters gathered holding various “Black Lives Matter” signs. Counter-protesters arrived in handfuls and drove past the group, waving Donald Trump flags.
The counter-protesters circling in vehicles yelled “Trump 2020” and “losers” at the protesters.
The youth leaders were joined by the Caravan for Racial Justice (C4RJ), advocating for anti-racism training in schools and the removal of security resource officers.
“I was informed that the youth of Adams 12 School District are being bullied for standing up for black youth, black lives and against racism,” C4RJ said in a statement. “C4RJ will be supporting this peaceful movement with a youth-led rally followed by a march.”
Counter-protesters were organized by Colorado Conservatives for Education. The group posted online that they would show up at the protest to advocate against race training and BLM curriculum in schools.
The group Parasol Patrol was also present at the protest, walking between the two groups holding umbrellas to protect the teen activists from the adult counter-protesters.
“We are not there to engage counter-protesters, we are there to stand as a peaceful barrier between our youth and those who would try and intimidate them,” Parasol Patrol said on the group’s Facebook account.
The Westminster Police Department was present during the protest, live-tweeting updates on the protesters whereabouts and issuing traffic advisories.
Westminster Police said anyone who was injured or a victim of a crime during the protest should call their non-emergency line at (303) 658-4360.