There’s a group starting to gather to march near downtown Lansing. They’ve been at the Capitol to start previous nights

Tonight they’re starting at Ferris Park.

One of the leaders said it isn’t to avoid the 2A rally at the Capitol, but instead they’re looking to make it a new base

A couple reasons behind that:

1. More space

2. Ferris Park is in a neighborhood that illustrates the issues they’re trying to highlight and fix. It’s a predominantly Black area of the city that’s had things (schools, other funding) taken away

I’ll be sticking around with them for awhile as another reporter covers the second amendment protest at the Capitol

Protesters here plan to avoid the other group altogether

Getting ready to start

Birdsong is talking.

“I’m going over there. I’m going to walk right over into the shit and do the George Floyd in the middle of the shit.”

No one coming with him can be armed.

“We’ve got to take a stand”

Birdsong: They should not be able to come here and demonstrate racist shit without us interfering.

After that, he’ll come back and they’ll go to the mayor’s house

Walking down walnut

Speaker at 2A rally saying he demands peace across America.

“You will not defund our boys in blue”

Ralliers are heckling them, “baa”ing like sheep, calling them commies and inbreeds.

Some others are telling those people to let them do what they’re doing.

Speaker saying it’s bullshit that people are trying to divide Americans based on skin color.

Let me say uncategorically that the people I hear in the crowd mostly do not respect the protestors, who are laying down silently in the middle of them

One rallier: You don’t even know we’re here for you too

Speaker asks for a round of applause for the blue and a big one goes up.

(Seems like some disconnect to me)

Another speaker: We want you to know that we support your rights.

“There is no reason to cause a scene”

Asking them to stand up. Another heckler gets shot down with “They have a right to be here”

One man is telling a couple others he saw one of the people laying down throwing a water bottle. Calls them terrorists

Crowd here having mixed reactions. Some heckling. Some defending the protestors and shaking hands with them

Current speaker: I see that we have some interrupters. Let’s not interrupt them. Let’s let them have their moment

Ironically, they aren’t letting the protestors do the chants they normally would

Speaker decrying “white liberals” who he says hold Black Lives Matter signs but then incite violence and encourage looting then buy up the looted areas

“They are your enemies”

Organizer Jason Howland bumps fists with Birdsong. Tells security they’re fine to be here.

Howland: We’re a lot closer in belief than you think we are.

Offers to talk and have a dialogue

Birdsong telling another: If you want to build trust, demonstrate with us.