American and President Donald Trump flags fly at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
ST. GEORGE — A group of around 40 people held an All Lives Matter protest supporting President Donald Trump and police officers Friday evening at the corner of St. George Boulevard and 200 East.
The event was planned to counter the protests that have taken place in Southern Utah and across the nation in the last nine days over the murder of George Floyd. Four police officers have been arrested and stand accused of killing Floyd
This time, the supporters of Black Lives Matter served as the counter-protest with around 100 counter-protesters at the same corner.
Wearing American flags and cowboy hats and flying U.S. and Trump flags, many of the protesters had chants of “USA” and support for the president.
The protest started around 5 p.m. and dispersed around 8:30 p.m. Around four St. George police officers were visibly on hand, mostly reminding those on both sides to stay on the sidewalk.
With the All Lives Matter protesters on one side of the street and Black Lives Matter supporters on the other, there was some yelling back and forth but nothing beyond that.
There were even civil discussions.
Cedar City resident Gabby Anderson, holding a “Blue Lives Matter” sign, approached Dixie State student Justice Slayton, holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign. The only common ground they could find was about both having once lived in Las Vegas. But, Anderson said that didn’t mean they couldn’t speak to each other in a civil manner.
“It’s better to make peace than yelling at each other,” Anderson said. “It’s better to be the bigger person than childish.”
At the very least, they could agree to disagree.
“We aren’t going to see common ground,” Slayton said. “But anyone can have a civil discussion if we want to.”
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Gabby Anderson, left, and counter-protester Justice Slayton have a discussion during an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Gabby Anderson, left, and Justice Slayton have a discussion during an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
An all lives matter supporter waves the American flag at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
American and President Donald Trump flags fly at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Counter-protesters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
A black lives matter counter-protester has a discussion with all lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
All lives matter supporters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Protesters and counter-protesters at an All Lives Matter protest in St. George, Utah, on June 5, 2020. | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2020, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.