“Back The Blue” Event In Marion July 25

[UPDATE, 7/10/2020, 7:42 a.m.: A new "Back the Blue" event has been scheduled in Marion. The original rally, scheduled for downtown Cedar Rapids, on July 11 at 10 a.m. appears to have been taken offline. A new event called the "Back the Blue Flag/Sign wave" has an event page on Facebook. It will be held Saturday, July 25, at Marion Square Park starting at 10:30.]

[UPDATE, 7/9/2020, 6:30 p.m.: A Facebook post for the "Back The Blue-Back The Green Freedom March' scheduled in Cedar Rapids this Saturday indicates the event has been canceled, with no details provided]

Black Lives Matter. But so do good cops, and a group in Cedar Rapids says the positive work of police is currently being cast in a negative spotlight due to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and more.

Recent protests have given rightful attention to the "Black Lives Matter" cause. We've seen through peaceful demonstrations that the riots and looting aren't indicative of the entire movement. "Back the Blue" will stand for all the good cops who actually go by the book.

Organizers say the "Back the Blue, Back the Green Freedom March" will happen this Saturday, July 11 starting at 10 a.m. on the corner of First St. and First Ave. West (the empty "casino lot"). Bring signs and flags to show your appreciation for law enforcement and first responders. Participants will walk First Avenue and later show respect for fallen officers with a moment of silence.

Lead organizer Michael Lambert of Van Horne says he doesn't at all want to diminish the vital public conversation being had right now about police brutality and racism, he wants to remind people that the bad apples don't represent the whole bunch, who are mostly good. He also insists it's not a "counter-protest" against that movement.

He told KCRG: "We all, you know, know Black Lives Matter, and we all appreciate everything that they’re doing. It’s just, we want to get out and show our support to the local law enforcement. A lot of them don’t have voices right now, and especially across this country, some places are worse. So we just wanted to get together".