Fearing worst, McLean tells Boiseans to avoid Black Lives Matter rally, counterprotest
Black Lives Matter Boise held a virtual press conference Monday, outlining plans for the group’s rally on Tuesday. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee also briefed the media, saying he expects a heavy police presence and a large crowd.
Shortly after that, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean issued a statement in support of peaceful protests but warning of possible violence, and urged people to stay home for their own safety.
The last rally, on June 30 outside Boise City Hall, attracted counterprotesters, some of whom were armed and some of whom were white supremacists who shouted racist statements and neo-Nazi slogans. Several people were assaulted or involved in clashes, according to victims and authorities.
Mayor McLean’s response
While recognizing the importance of the right to assemble and protest, McLean said she was urging Boiseans to avoid gathering downtown because the threat of violence is great, and she asked people to keep children at home.
“This Tuesday, we understand that some Boiseans again plan to peacefully protest, exercising their due rights to free speech and assembly,” she wrote in a news release. “I embrace these rights wholeheartedly; they’re the essence of who we are and the expectations we have as Americans. We speak out. We hold our leaders accountable. And we move, ever onwards, in hope of a more perfect union. Peacefully.”
Lee, who was sworn in the day after the last protest, said there have been threats of violence against McLean, which is just one reason for a heavy police presence Tuesday evening.
“We have also learned that there are malicious forces who seek to capitalize on Boiseans protesting their city government,” McLean said. “Factions — many from outside of our community — will again come to our great city and seek to intimidate, threaten and incite violence, all at the very time our community is most in need of unity and compassion. We must not let ourselves get distracted by the efforts of a vocal minority or be pulled into violence they seek to instigate. As a city, we will not tolerate violence, and will hold those accountable. “
McLean said it’s important that to “protect our singular and special Boise community, we must reject outside forces who seek to divide us, and we must reject those who would seek violence in the midst of peaceful protest.
“Out of an abundance of caution and desire to keep our people safe and sound, I am urging Boiseans to avoid assembling downtown on the evening of Tuesday, July 21. As a mother, I am asking you to keep your children at home. And as someone who loves this city dearly, I’m asking you to stand with me in rebuking tactics that will tear us apart.”
BLM Boise’s requests
On Monday, a spokesman for BLM Boise said on a virtual press conference that they are rallying for social justice. He wore a mask and identified himself as “Professor Wilson.”
“Our mayor and council refuse to bring BLM Boise to the table for dialogue, despite executive communication efforts on multiple occasions,” he said. “ Our chief, mayor and council refuse to defund contemporary policing.”
The group said it also is asking for the defunding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the removal of school resource officers from schools and ending discrimination against other marginalized group.
“We rally to end mass incarceration and to end state-sanctioned violence,” he said. “We also rally to denounce such voices who would engage in performative activism. We rally in fervor against a community that would seek to undermine the message of Black Lives Matter global network.”
Some protesters and advocates who attended the June 30 rally publicly announced that they would not be attending the Tuesday rally because of safety concerns, including threats of violence and intimidation, as well as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has seen Idaho suffer a surge in cases.
The BLM Boise spokesman said the group held a de-escalation training on Sunday with more than 75 people in preparation for facing threats. Organizers still have not announced a specific time for the Tuesday rally.
There were some statements made online by Ammon Bundy stating BLM had invited him to the rally. BLM said Monday that his statement was false. The organization has never spoken with Bundy and does not support his stance on refusing to wear a mask in public, it said.
Bundy is best known for his involvement in two armed standoffs, one at a family ranch in Nevada in 2014 and one at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon in 2016. He was tried but not convicted in two federal standoffs.
While Bundy has made statements about stopping contemporary policing, “they have failed to understand the complexities of this pandemic,” the BLM spokesman said Monday.
BLM Boise is asking attendees of the rally to wear face coverings to protect from COVID-19 transmission. Per an order from the city of Boise and a Central District Health order, masks covering the nose and mouth are mandatory in public in Ada County.
Boise Police response
Boise Police and city officials have been coordinating to provide a larger response to this event and reaching out to organizers to try to ensure a peaceful demonstration.
Chief Lee told the media Monday that the city has heard from several groups who plan to attend the rally, some from areas outside the Treasure Valley. Police have heard of threats of violence and threats against the mayor.
Lee said some people have said they are going to come to “help the police,” but he discouraged civilians from interfering with police duties and discouraged carrying weapons. He said the police are there to protect everyone in attendance, which is why there will be a robust force.
The June 30 event led to police searches for instigators of violence, with BPD putting out a public call to help identify three counterprotesters facing potential battery, fighting and disturbing the peace charges.
One person, Robbie Ciolli, 56, of Nampa, was arrested Monday and charged with misdemeanor battery in connection to an assault outside City Hall. He turned himself in after a warrant was issued. According to police, several cases have now been submitted to Boise prosecutors for review and consideration for warrants.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 3:15 PM.
