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Portland Black Lives Matter Rally Canceled After Threats Of Violence

Troy R. Bennett
/
Bangor Daily News
A Black Lives Matter protest on Commercial Street in Portland in June.

A Black Lives Matter rally planned for Portland Saturday was canceled, although a number of people turned out for an independent demonstration anyway.

The original protest, organized by Black Lives Matter Maine, was expected to draw a sizable crowd, but the group announced on social media that due to threats of violence being made against the group, they would not go ahead as planned.

In a Facebook post, the group says that some of its members are very young and out of concern for their safety, the event was canceled. The post went on to encourage supporters to donate to a fund to support mental health for black youths.

The cancellation came a day after police in Portland advised potential counterprotesters that vigilantism would not be tolerated.

Saturday’s gathering was to call for justice in the Aug. 23 shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was left in critical condition after being shot during an arrest.