Hunter
09/26/20
A “Back the Blue” march was held in downtown Iowa City Friday night.
Conservative group Turning Point USA at the University of Iowa, The Leadership Institute, America Backs the Blue Iowa Chapter and BLEXIT hosted the march, which began at College Green Park.
Organizers got a permit and were able to walk in the street, with Iowa City police and other law enforcement groups escorting them as they made their way to the Pentacrest. Speakers said the rally was held to support the police officers, one saying that while there are issues within police departments, most of them are just doing their job.
The marchers were met with a small group of counter-protesters who chanted “Black Lives Matter,” but KCRG TV reports that other than yelling between the groups, there were no incidents.
Later Friday evening, about a hundred people held a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence for University of Iowa student Makeda Scott, who drowned in Lake McBride on June 7th. The memorial, held by the Iowa Freedom Riders, also included friends and family speaking, reading poems and performing songs.
Scott’s drowning was ruled as accidental by investigators with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.