Participation increased Saturday at separate demonstrations by both the Montezuma County Patriots and the Walk for Justice and Peace in Cortez, a week after police officers intervened at the rallies.
Organizers from both demonstrations instructed participants beforehand on how to respond if a confrontation occurred.
Tiffany Ghere, organizer of the Freedom Rides on Main Street, led the Patriots in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for members of the military and prisoners of war Saturday morning before “laying the ground rules,” she said.
“If you’re called a white supremacist, racist or homophobic, stand tall – you know what you stand for,” she told the crowd that gathered in the parking lot of the Ute Coffee Shop. “We defend everything in this nation – the good and the bad.”
Ghere said participants in the Freedom Ride should deal with opposition by taking photos and videos and reporting incidents to law enforcement.
“We have to obey traffic laws,” Ghere said. “We must oppose violence.”
Amanda Winter, a participant in the Freedom Ride and a nurse at Southwest Memorial Hospital, said some residents misunderstand their weekly event.
“We’re here to support our country, we’re not here looking for trouble,” she said.
Her daughter, Alicia Winter, sang the national anthem at the gathering before the Freedom Ride.
The Freedom Ride is about supporting liberties granted by the U.S. Constitution, said Melanie McAfee, another participant.
“All lives matter – I’m tired of the separation,” she said.
Andrew Ghere, Tiffany Ghere’s husband, said the Freedom Ride takes a stand for veterans, firefighters and law enforcement.
He and several other riders have concerns about the push to defund the police in other areas of the U.S., though members of the Walk for Justice said at a Cortez City Council meeting in September that they did not support defunding police.
“We all come together as one for love of our country, unity and freedom,” Ghere said.
Before their demonstration Saturday afternoon, about 20 members of the Walk for Justice and Peace met for a training session with people from Durango who are studying to be mediators.
Last week, several people in a group that included members of the Montezuma County Patriots confronted the Walk for Justice, crossing Main Street and yelling at walkers face to face.
The Walk for Justice assigned “frontliners” to interact with anyone who could become confrontational.
Frontliners would tell anyone confrontational that they are welcome to join the Walk for Justice, but they couldn’t yell. A frontliner also walked with co-organizer Dawn Robertson to ensure her safety after counter-demonstrators followed her last week.
All other participants agreed to stand silently with their signs.
“Our signs speak our message,” said Raleigh Marmorstein, a co-organizer of the demonstration. “The goal is to not have to call the police.”
The Walk for Justice began with deep breathing before participants headed down Main Street.
More than 80 walkers spanned the sidewalk as honks of encouragement sounded from the street. Two trucks appeared to blow black exhaust fumes at the walkers, but there was no confrontation.
The owner of Love on a Hanger became frustrated when the Walk for Justice stopped in front of her business, and called the Cortez Police Department. Organizers moved participants farther down the street to accommodate the shop owner.
Clay Baier, a member of the Montezuma County Patriots, parked his truck along Main Street as the marchers headed back to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. His truck bore a half-dozen flags, including an American and Confederate flag.
“I feel they need to leave,” he said. “I feel division.”
If the walkers changed their signs to state that all lives matter, the Patriots would march with them, Baier said.
“If you don’t like the American flag, leave for the country of your choosing,” he said.
But several participants in the Walk for Justice, including Robertson, carried American flags.
When the demonstration first started several months ago, Caro Gomez said only 15 people showed up.
“It’s great to see things grow,” she said. “It felt better this week.”
ehayes@the-journal.com
