by KATE SHUNNEY
A Black Lives Matter rally and a wave of counter-protestors filled sidewalks and part of Berkeley Springs State Park on Friday, August 21 with hundreds in attendance. The events wound down without violence or injuries as darkness fell. A heavy police presence around the park served, at times, as a physical barrier between the two groups — those who rallied in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement and crowds of people who shouted out competing slogans and heckled speakers at the Berkeley Springs State Park gazebo. Worries about potential conflict and violence downtown led the county to close the courthouse early on Friday, and caused many local residents to avoid the downtown area.
Rally organizers Larry Schultz, Katie Spriggs and speaker Kate Lehman lead the crowd in chants.
Black Lives Matter speakers were partially drown out as counter-protestors shouted for speakers to “Go home” and “Shut up.” Shouting and verbal sparring between the protestors once or twice escalated into shoving, but police officers moved between parties, separating them without force.
The majority of Black Lives Matter supporters stayed to the north of the gazebo as counter-protestors moved into the park at the start of the event, many waving American flags and several hoisting Trump flags in the air. Organizers of the counter-protest appeared to be members of motorcycle groups, some of which had set out for the rally from Martinsburg. One rally attendee said he was one of 30 to 40 vehicles in a caravan from Martinsburg to Berkeley Springs on Friday afternoon.
Those protesting the Black Lives Matter rally were both in the park and across U.S. 522 from the park along Washington Street. A line of motorcycles was parked along the front of the park, a “Black Out” tractor trailer was stationed directly opposite the gazebo and played music at intervals during the rally. Many people stood waving American flags, while others held signs like “All Lives Matter” and “United We Stand, Divided We Fall.”
Motorcycles lined downtown streets.
Police stand between groups of protestors.
Inside the park, those supporting Black Lives Matter held signs and applauded for speakers and tried to chant over the sounds of heckling. Organizers struggled to recapture the attention of the crowds several times as arguments broke out and counter-protestors chanted “U.S.A” and “All Lives Matter.” Counter-protestors clearly
Protestors shout back and forth.
A counter protestor shouts at rally attendee.
outnumbered Black Lives Matter rally supporters.
Ellen Lachewitz said she came to the rally in support of Black Lives Matter to listen and learn, and take action for equality.
“Our history has done a grave disservice to people of color,” she said.
Bear Thompson of Berkeley Springs said he came to take a stand against the Black Lives Matter rally “to make sure this town doesn’t turn into Portland.”
Tom Hall waved an American flag along the front of the park. “What you see going on here is not the American way,” he said of the Black Lives Matter rally. He said the Berkeley Springs community is not home to many people of color, and the rally didn’t belong there.
Rally attendees hold signs.
“I’m here because I believe Black lives matter and we all need to work for more justice for all,” Kate Lehman said.
Jim Stewart said he had come to support “All Lives Matter” and Morgan County. He had been in the Martinsburg area and ended up returning to Berkeley Springs amid 30 or 40 vehicles and motorcycles flying flags and heading to the counter protest. Stewart said he hadn’t intended to come, but joined the group.
From the gazebo, rally organizer Larry Schultz said the crowd was watching Black Lives Matter messages being shouted down, representing the larger issues of racism in the country.
“Who’s going to stand up for them?” Schultz said of marginalized groups and people of color.
A “Black Out” tractor trailer played music during counter protests.
“We are,” some in the audience responded.
A veteran from Martinsburg said he had come to speak against Black Lives Matter, which he said had once been a good idea. He said the group was now trying to shift America into a Marxist country. The man told Black Lives Matter speakers to stop talking about race and focus on everyone being Americans.
Adonijah Gilmore of Berkeley County spoke to the crowd over shouts, calling on all parties to be “brothers and sisters” in fighting poverty, being more Christ-like, thinking critically and not believing media misrepresentations about others.
Adonijah Gilmore speaks from the gazebo.
“We are not here to say Black lives matter more than anyone else,” Gilmore said. “Brothers and sisters, we have this movement not to continue the hate, but to stand with each other.”
“I’m sure everyone here wants to end every form of discrimination. What are you going to do about it?” he asked the crowd.
Black Lives Matter rally speakers ended their event early, urging supporters to be safe as they returned home.
Organizer Katie Spriggs said the rally was meant to show support for community members of color, and to denounce racial stereotyping and acts of bigotry. She said she was disappointed that message was met with such strong resistance.
Crowds continued to gather along the edges of the state park, waving flags and talking, with police remaining in the area as groups moved out of the main park.
Prior to the rallies, police had arrested one man, charging him with making terroristic threats related to the event.
Officers represented multiple police agencies, including the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department, Berkeley Springs Police Department, West Virginia State Police, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department, DNR Police and others.
