by Love and Rage Team

Love and Rage Media and another freelance journalist and photographer were on scene at the “Back the Blue” rally organized by Trump and Tenney supporters, which was also sponsored by Dave’s Diner in Schuyler, NY. The August 26th rally was met with opposition – a counter-demonstration organized by Black Lives Matter and Utica Abolitionist activists. We encourage you to read this article published in The Indypendent about what happened and find out more about the Utica Abolitionists on the group’s Facebook page and Instagram. 

The Black Lives Matter Activists were determined and reserved. They stood their ground, despite the best efforts by a Trump supporting landlord, the demands made by the NYSP, and the constant stream racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs as well as threats of rape and death from Tenney and Trump supporters.

This young Utica Abolitionist holds the line, undeterred by the constant stream of death threats and racial slurs from the Trump and Tenney supporters. (Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

(Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

(Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

Utica Abolitionists and Black Lives Matter activists. (Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

The Trump supporters reserved much of the anger and threats for the young Black activists. Photo Credit: Love and Rage

Remember Kenosha, WI where police shot shot Jacob Blake in his back in front of his children, and where two BLM activists were killed and one critically injured by teenage white militia member Kyle Rittenhouse. Trump and Tenney supporters rally in front of Dave’s Diner which sponsored and promoted the event. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

A Black Lives Matter activist holds a sign that reads “End Right Wing Terrorism” – a fitting statement for the volatile political climate we find ourselves in. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

The New York State Patrol tried unsuccesfully to get the Black Lives Matter activists to leave from the very beginning. The activists explained their legal right to be there and demanded they stay – but they had to move back and forth in front of this Trump supporter’s failed, abandoned businesses. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Black Lives Matter! All day! Every day! (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

“Disarm, Defund, Abolish!” Utica Abolitionists and Black Lives Matter activists let their vision be known as they march at the counter-demonstration. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Black Lives Matter activists and Utica Abolitionists on the march. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Here is the “Back the Blue” crowd of Trump and Tenney supporters. They rally every Wednesday in a different town to show their support for the two Republicans and law enforcement. The weekly gathering of racists is organized by Mohawk Valley / Central New Yorkers for Trump & Tenney. Claudia Tenney, as usual, was present and spoke at the rally.

Isn’t he supposed to be protesting in front of Planned Parenthood? (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Expressing his love for the “fake news.” (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Claudia Tenney and a staffer laughed at and took picture of the Black Lives Matter activists. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

A trump supporter drives by in his “Overtime Outlaw” car. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Claudia Tenney 2020. (Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

(Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

Trump and Tenney supporters rally in front of Dave’s Diner which sponsored and promoted the event. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

A Trump and Tenney supporter threatening Black Lives Matter activists. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

(Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

This is Jason Winter, who regularly threatened to rape and kill Black Lives Matter activists. He later physically attacked some of the BLM demonstrators. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Trump supporters charged across the road and encircled peaceful Black Lives Matter activists. They then hurled threats at them and tried to instigate fights. Trump and Tenney supporters rally in front of Dave’s Diner which sponsored and promoted the event. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Trump 2020! (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Making America Great Again in Schuyler, NY. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

(Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

Trump and Tenney supporters stream across the road and attempt to start fights with BLM activists. The BLM activists kept their cool. (Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)

A Trump supporter holds a large decapitated head of the president. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

This begs the question: what, exactly, are “traditional American values”? (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Claudia Tenney regularly attends Back the Blue rallies. Here she is laughing with one of her supporters who was yelling racist remarks at BLM activists and made supportive comments of the KKK. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

This is when things descended into violence. Trump supporter Jason Winter attacked these young Black Lives Matter activists. You can read the full story in The Indypendent and watch the video here. BLM activist Troy Lockwood said, “I’ve never seen such a hateful crowd of people in my whole life.”

(Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

Trump supporter Jason Winter kicks Black Lives Matter activist Daniel Lockwood from behind. Lockwood said, “I didn’t expect a grown man to physically assault someone who was not doing anything to him.” (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

The violence of the Trump and Tenney crowd on full display. (Photo Credit: Love and Rage)

NYSP Troopers finally intervened, but only after Trump supporter Jason Winter attacked BLM activists. They let him go, saying the worst that could happen to him from physically attacking activists and throwing a rock at them was a $24 fine. (Photo credit: Eamon Handzel)