Black Lives Matter protesters demonstrate in Coeur d’Alene, armed group there to ‘protect Idaho’

Both groups demonstrated near the Winco for a few hours, but dispersed shortly before 9 p.m.

A bar patron on Sherman Avenue said there are people openly carrying guns on the streets outside, but said he had not seen any kind of disturbances.

BLM protestors lined up here on Appleway Ave in Coeur d’Alene, but right across the street is another line of people who say they’re “protecting Idaho.”

They say they agree with what BLM protestors are saying, but they don’t want this to turn into a riot. @kxly4news pic.twitter.com/cKdyDWe1X0

— Maher Kawash (@MaherKXLY) June 2, 2020

Protesters told 4 News Now’s Maher Kawash they gathered to peacefully to demand justice for George Floyd. They said “the Trump supporters are here protecting us.” Another man said he believes “police brutality has gone on too long.”

4 News Now’s is on scene and will be throughout the night.

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.