Bethel Protests Day 2: Black Lives Matter protesters met with more opposition скачать в хорошем качестве

Bethel Protests Day 2: Black Lives Matter protesters met with more opposition

BETHEL, OH. (WKRC) -- As we enter the third week of protests over George Floyd's death, demonstrators are taking their message beyond big cities. For the second day in a row, the Village of Bethel in Clermont was the stage for protests, something the rural community isn’t used to. And many of the residents don’t want the protesters there either leading to violent clashes, arrests and even a curfew. As chants of Blacks Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and U.S.A. bounce from one side of the street and argument to the other, the debate revs up. "Towns like this, this is the old and it needs to brought up to the new generation,” said Elena Barger. Barger is at the protest with her two sisters. They’re from Bethel and says they're sad this is the current of state of their hometown and this country. "I’m walking around all day and I’ve literally been followed around by people that are so ignorant walking around following me with guns and I have to be surrounded by cops because it's too dangerous to be out here to speak up about somebody's life,” said Hailey Barger. “Somebody's life is so unimportant to some people." In the crowd, symbols of the confederacy are visible and racial slurs are shouted at protesters. But some in opposition of the protest say it's not about race but rather hometown pride. "We're not letting any outsiders influence us. We just want to make sure that were heard too,” said Joe Anter. Anter lives in Bethel, he says his family has been in the village for generations. "It's a shame that we have so much division in this country right now. I feel threatened this whole town feels threatened,” said Anter. All afternoon and evening the face to face shouting matches fill the streets. Division so clear, police officers are the line in the sand separating the groups. That’s a sight, Bethel Police Chief Steve Teague says is something he never saw coming to Bethel. "Unfortunately this matter is nationwide as everyone else here. And it's put a divide in this country that doesn't need to be here,” said Teague.. Three people were arrested during the day, two for fighting one for being drunk. All three were cited and released. Two women were taken into custody just before the 9 pm curfew for fighting. The chief tells us this is the second curfew in the last few months. The last one was because of the coronavirus pandemic.