'Black Lives Matter' Rally Follows Hamptons 'Back The Blue' Event

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Two rallies, one to "Back the Blue" and the other, a new "Black Lives Still Matter" community response, are planned for Southampton on Saturday.

The first, a "Back the Blue" rally, is organized by a group called Patriots of America and slated to take place at Agawam Park at 11 a.m.

The rally, an event announcement said, is being held to "show much needed support for all police and law enforcement agencies as well as our Armed Forces. This is long overdue and needs to be addressed immediately." These "brave and heroic men and women . . . keep our communities safe and defend our freedom day in and day out without hesitation" and the event is meant as a way to say "thank you," the announcement said.

Those attending are asked to wear a blue or a patriotic shirt and carry a flag or banner to show support; the rally will begin with a blessing, the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The rally route will begin at Agawam Park and head down Windmill Lane, make a right on Jagger Lane, a right onto Main Street, a right on Jobs Lane and then, finish back at Agawam Park.

Next, a "Black Lives Still Matter" march and rally will take place at Agawam Park from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Organizer Lisa Votino said many had reached out with concerns about the "Back the Blue" rally and asked if there would be a community response.

"We are still here. We are still watching. We still believe that Black lives matter," she said. "And this is our community. We stand together now and always."

Votino added: "While outsiders will be coming into our community bringing their hate under the guise of supporting law enforcement, we will gather and stand united like we do. We have held protest after protest, all peaceful, all positive, all showing appreciation for our first responders including the police that partnered with us. We have had open and honest continuing dialogue with our local departments. If this was a a first responders' appreciation day, we would show our respect. That's not what this 'back the blue' rally is. It's not what any of them are. The 'back the blue' rallies on Long Island have been filled with people spewing political rhetoric, violence, hate and racism."

Votino added: "This is not a counter-protest. We will not be taking any action during their rally. But we will have the last word in our community. Hate will not go unchecked. We believe that Black lives still matter. We are still waiting for the arrest of Breonna Taylor's killers.
We still seek justice, equality and equity as we raise the names for all the people we have marched for and all those we haven't."

The group will march through Southampton Village and voter registration will be available, Votino said. Those attending are asked to wear masks; hand sanitizer and gloves will be available.