BURLINGTON — Two groups of protesters exchanged harsh words and glances as one group stood and waved their flags in support of the Burlington Police Department, while counter-protesters rallied against police brutality.
The scene unfolded late in the afternoon Monday, after Paul Decelles, a Burlington resident and former city councilor, was joined by a group of police backers outside the Burlington Police Department. Some carried flags that depict the “thin blue line” in support of police officers at a time of mounting calls to defund law enforcement agencies and prohibit certain tactics.
After 30 minutes of honking, waving and smiles a group of counter-protesters arrived at first in small numbers, but eventually grew to about 20. These protesters wore hats that said “BTV Copwatch” and held signs that said “Black Lives Matter,” and “FTP.”
The conflicting demonstrations come just days after at least a thousand people marched from downtown Burlington to nearby Battery Park to rally against racial injustice on the Fourth of July.
A week ago, the Burlington City Council approved 30% reduction in the number of uniformed officers through attrition following thousands of community members voicing their concerns.Â
The two groups stood across from each other on North Avenue, both waving as cars passed by.
Decelles said in an interview with VTDigger that he had begun standing outside the police station last Friday, having grown tired of the insults and calls for defunding the police in his hometown.
“I’ve lived in Burlington my whole life and I served on the City Council for eight years, I was finally tired enough to take a stand,” Decelles said. “There’s obviously a very vocal minority — in my opinion — that is spreading mistruths about the police department, degrading them at every level. And frankly, I’ve had enough.”
Decelles said that last Friday he had the occasional middle finger tossed his way, but not a counter-demonstration of the size that showed up on Monday. But, he said, that’s what makes the United States great.
“This is the greatest country in the world,” he said. “They can have their opinions, and we can have ours. That’s what makes American great.”
Although Decelles was holding a “thin blue line” flag that has mixed connotations, he said he and his fellow BPD supporters are just concerned Burlingtonians.
On the other side of the street, counter-protesters arrived carrying signs decrying police and standing in support of the Black Lives Matter. One protester brought bottles of water for everyone, others brought materials to make signs.
As police officers drove by, they often waved at those holding the blue flags, but never the Black Lives Matter supporters.
During one heated exchange, a protester from the Black Lives Matter side asked Decelles what the flag means. Decelles replied that it’s supporting police, but they respect everyone.
The protester shot back and asked Decelles if he would hold a Black Lives Matter sign. After a back and forth the protester brought a sign across the street, which Decelles reclined to accept.
At one point, a BPD supporter crossed the street and told the Black Lives Matter supporters he doesn’t agree with everything the police do, but that they should be supported.
Another member of the group backing the police, who was not wearing a facial covering, also crossed the street and started trying to talk to the counter-protesters. Tensions flared briefly as a Black Lives Matter protester began yelling at the man.
The man replied, “You need to get out of my face.”
Meanwhile, a woman holding the still packaged mask argued to those in the vicinity that the unmasked man was “using his body as a weapon.”
Vermont state Rep. Brian Cina, P/D-Burlington, managed to defuse the situation by escorting the man back over to the other side of the street and speaking with him.
At around 6:30 p.m., Decelles and his supporters packed up and were met by cheers from the opposition.
After they left, the Black Lives Matter supporters marched across the street, ceremonially taking the piece of grass Decelles and his fellow demonstrators were once standing on.
Counter-demonstrators declined interviews with VTDigger.Â
Correction. An earlier version of this story referred imprecisely to the nature of cuts to the Burlington Police Department budget. It included a 30% reduction in the number of uniformed officers through attrition, not a a cut in the overall budget.
