Black Lives Matter and Sarasota Patriots square off in dueling rallies on Fourth of July
The “Kissing Statue” is one of the most iconic symbols of America’s victory over Japan, which surrendered in August of 1945, marking an end to World War II. Saturday, it’s shadow cast over to two very different gatherings in downtown Sarasota.
On one side, the Sarasota Patriots. about 60 strong, gathered for their seventh annual Fourth of July rally and to for America’s future.
On the other side, about 70 Black Lives Matters protesters gathered to decry police brutality and racial injustice and call for the defunding of police and the abolishing of prisons.
At least one BLM protester carried an Antifa flag while another carried the Palestinian flag in protest of Israel.
It was mostly Old Glory, Tea Party and President Donald Trump flags flying at the Sarasota Patriots rally, just yards away.
“We’ve been coming here for the last seven years,” said Beth Colvin, who founded the Sarasota Patriots 12 years ago. “I can’t believe the city would give them a permit right next to us. How did that happen? Was someone asleep at the wheel?”
The atmosphere was tense for awhile. But other than the two groups jostling for position along U.S. 41 to hold up signs for vehicles passing by, and a few attempts to be louder than the other, the two groups split apart and held their respective, peaceful rallies.
Almost all of the Black Lives Matter protesters asked to comment, refused to speak on why they were there. Those who were willing, were told they could not speak to the press without permission from the organizers, who monitored the interview.
Natasha Clemons, whose son Rodney Mitchell was shot and killed following a traffic stop by Sarasota County deputies almost a decade ago, did speak about why she was there.
“Today, we are out here so we can demand justice to reopen my son’s case, who was executed by two Sarasota sheriff’s deputies,” Clemons said. “This is why we are here so we can demand for my case to be reopened and justice for my son. Rodney.”
While the Sarasota Patriots celebrated the nation’s birthday just a few yards away, Clemons said Blacks in America don’t have an Independence Day.
“We have been slaves for 400-plus years,” Clemons said. “Fourth of July is a holiday I don’t celebrate. We’re not considered free. Until it happens that we are all treated the same, then that’s when there will be a Fourth of July, which will be a celebration.”
As the Sarasota Patriots prayed, not only for the future of America, but for an end to racism, the chants from the other side continued.
Usama Dakdok was celebrating the nation’s birthday with the Sarasota Patriots. Having fled from Egypt 28 years ago, Dakdok said the protesters don’t really know what real tyranny is.
“They are just stupid,” he said. “They need to leave this country and go somewhere else so they can appreciate the freedom we have in this country. I believe if they went to my country of Egypt and lived for just a day, not a week, they will come back and kiss the dirt of this land and kiss the flag of this land.”
Dakdok works as a Christian evangelist, “equipping Christians to be effective witnesses of Jesus Christ to their Muslim neighbors, as well as ministering to Muslims directly,” his ministry’s website states.
“I enjoy being an American for the past 28 years coming from the country of Egypt,” Dakdok said. “I’m here to celebrate Independence Day, the birthday of this great country, America.”
There was no sign of it being the Fourth of July on the Black Matters Live side, a stark contrast to what was taking place on the other side of the sidewalk with everything decorated in red, white and blue.
Colvin said most of the protesters probably don’t even understand what they are protesting.
“They are doing it for attention,” Colvin said. “They know how to grab the spotlight. Most of them are young and most are unaware of what makes America great, which are their inalienable rights.”
To learn more about Black Lives Matter Alliance Sarasota-Manatee Chapter, visit their Facebook page. To learn more about the Sarasota Patriots, visit sarasotapatriots.org.
This story was originally published July 4, 2020 at 3:16 PM.