PLEASANT VALLEY — Pro-police and Black Lives Matter groups got in each other’s faces during rallies in Pleasant Valley on Saturday.
One side of the intersection at West Road and Route 44 featured those with signs primarily stating “blue lives matter,” or “all lives matter,” while the other side had local Black Lives Matter organizers protesting at Cady Recreation Park against the deaths of people of color at the hand of the police.
At one point, both sides engaged in a screaming match.
Those from the Support Our Local Police group understood why there is controversy surrounding police treatment of racial minority groups but maintained that not all members of law enforcement are oppressive towards communities of color.
“It’s based solely on the actions of very few,” said Millbrook resident Brenda DeLuca. “With the climate the way it is, there’s only going to be publicity on those very few which makes them seem like [there are] thousands.”
Hyde Park residents Jim and Jeanne Lyons also stood on this side. They decried the #DefundthePolice movement, which calls for local municipalities to re-allocate police department funds to mental health services, education and other more underserved entities.
“From what I see, they want to use unarmed social workers to go and defuse a situation,” said Jim, “and I don’t know how safe that is for everybody.”
“Most domestic violence cases are not just ‘honey, you screwed up, get out,’” added Jeanne. “It’s ‘I’m going to kill you if you don’t get out,’ so defunding the police is the stupidest thing you could ever come up with.”
Generally, the protests were peaceful, said Danielle Luisa del Rosario, a resident of the Tivoli area who marched with the Black Lives Matter group.
Their protest had guest speakers, water, snacks and T-shirts for attendees.
“We were gathered in the field and it was amazing,” she said. “With all the positive energy that was going on there, it felt almost like a festival.”
Then, things shifted from a peaceful counter-protest to alleged attacks on five Black Lives Matter protestors from representatives of the Support Our Local Police group.
“They were yelling something along the lines of ‘all lives matter’ and someone was responding to them,” said del Rosario, “and then the counter-protester responded by pushing one of the protesters, and things escalated from there.”
One of the alleged victims of the attack was a 12-year-old girl.
Margerite Pastor, who tried to break up the fight and got injured as well, described the encounter via text message.
“Pain-wise I’m alright,” she said. “I am more distraught about the child who was attacked. I just can’t believe it.”
She recounted how the instigators had reportedly tried to shred their signs before getting physical with them.
Pastor describes how she separated the group when a middle-aged man allegedly started laughing at her, and punched her in the face while he continued to laugh.
She then stated that she tried to report the incident to a police officer who was on site, but was told to “come back later.”
Del Rosario also said someone attempting to hit her with a water bottle as she was getting out of her car, which was parked on the side where the Support Our Local Police group was protesting.
A news release sent by the County Sheriff’s office before Sunday’s events stated that they were working with the New York State Police, town and elected officials, the Pleasant Valley Fire Department, and Emergency Response to “ensure that the demonstrations are conducted in the safest manner possible while maintaining everyone’s right to free speech.
