Kelly Kenoyer
Staff Writer
Around 20 people showed up for a Black Lives Matter rally in Sweet Home on Friday, Aug. 7, carrying signs with phrases like “Racism Stops with You and Me,” and “We said BLM, we didn’t say Only BLM.”
Organizer Chelle Palkki said half the attendees are from Sweet Home, and she lives nearby but often visits family in the area.
Palkki said she decided to come to Sweet Home because “Black Lives are in danger” and “everybody doesn’t have a fair shake when they’re born.” She said critics have told the attendees to “go home,” but responds “Go home where? We live here.”
The attendees were spread out along the sidewalk by Main Street in front of Thriftway, and several cars honked as they passed by, prompting cheers from the crowd between chants of “Black lives matter.”
Palkki said she speaks for the non-white population of Sweet Home. “The 10 percent that looks like me that lives here can’t speak out,” she said. “I grew up in a small town and you literally have to keep your head down and not make any noise. So we’re here to speak for them.”
Rachel Galster, 19, is a Sweet Home native who attended the BLM rally. She said her Hispanic father has been called racial slurs in Sweet Home, and added that she came out to the rally to decry some of the racism she’s seen in town and in school, like SS symbols painted on the class rock earlier this summer.
“Race isn’t political and it shouldn’t be political,” she said.
About 100 feet away in the Thriftway parking lot, a few men were gathered near a truck flying the American flag and blasting the national anthem on repeat.
Jake Long said he came to the lot because “I figured I’d come out here and support my side and my country.”
He added, “I stand for cops, absolutely. Who are you going to call when someone breaks into your car?”
Police monitored the protest throughout the evening, driving between the two groups and speaking with members on each side. They also monitored the Freedom Rally down the road, which garnered about 10 attendees. That rally flew American flags, thin blue line flags and signs saying “Thank You Trump.” That rally also remained peaceful as police watched from down the road.
Police Chief Jeff Lynn said all the demonstrations remained completely peaceful. “The demonstrations are going to continue on Fridays through August, so we’ll continue to respond how we did with the same amount of presence,” he said.
“From our standpoint, we appreciate any individuals being able to assemble peacefully and pursue their First Amendment rights,” he added.
“We’ll continue to reach out to those organizers to make sure we can help it be a smooth and uneventful event.”