The Bel Air High School Demonstration That Wasn't: PHOTOS

Despite word of a student-planned demonstration at Bel Air High School Thursday, nobody had arrived by 5 p.m., when it was slated to begin, except police and media—and lots of cars looking on driving by to see if there was actually a protest.

A prayer circle of fewer than a dozen people had gathered outside the courthouse in Bel Air, and a handful of individuals held signs as cars drove by on Main Street.

“We’re waiting to see if anything develops,” Interim Chief of the Bel Air Police Department Jack Meckley reported.

To be prepared, the department had ”contingency plans” in place, he said.

Stationed around Bel Air in the event of any unusual activity were police from Bel Air, Aberdeen and Havre de Grace police departments; troopers from the Maryland State Police Bel Air, JFK and North East barracks; and deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

Due to the rumors of a demonstration, Harford County Public Schools canceled after-school and evening activities Thursday at Bel Air High, Middle and Elementary schools as well as Homestead-Wakefield.

On Friday, Harford County Public Schools reported there would not be buses to Baltimore City to pick up students, including McKinney Vento and non-public special needs buses.

The decisions come days after the Baltimore riots, which put neighboring jurisdictions on alert.

• 4 Bel Air Schools Cancel After School Activities on Thursday
• Bel Air Police, Harford Deputies ‘Will Response to Unlawful Acts’