Fred Sims of the group Social Justice For Us, standing at far left, leads a protest against police brutality on Wednesday evening in front of the Marquette Post Office. Protesters supporting the Black Lives Matter movement as well as counter-protesters from the All Lives Matter movement demonstrated following the Sunday shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wis., reportedly by a police officer. (Photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — A protest featuring loudly expressed opinions on both sides of an issue took place on Wednesday evening in front of the Marquette Post Office in the wake of the Sunday shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Video shows Blake being shot — apparently in the back — by a police officer as Blake got into his SUV with three of his children seated inside, the Associated Press reported. News reports indicated Blake’s father said his son is paralyzed from the waist down.

Wednesday’s protest was organized by the group Social Justice For Us, led by Fred Sims of Marquette.

His shouts of “No justice, no peace” and other statements, though, often were drowned out by counter-protesters who blasted an emergency siren and carried signs that read “All Lives Matter.”

Before the protest became heated, participants in support of the Black Lives Matter side had gathered to begin the rally at Third and Washington streets.

“Black lives matter,” said Sarah Skinner of Marquette. “It’s not something that should have to be said. It’s not fair. People should not have to go out in the world and worry about, because they’re a little bit darker than someone else, they’re going to be a target.

“And with Jacob Blake being shot, it shows that after all these months, the police just still aren’t taking it seriously.”

Large protests took place throughout Marquette earlier this year after the May 25 death of George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis following his arrest. A video showed a police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Floyd’s neck.

Skinner believes Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is making an effort in race relations, but can do only so much.

“But someone’s got to do more, and if she can’t do it, who is it up to?” she said.

Jalen Sims, a Northern Michigan University student, also took part in the protest during which he held a civil discussion with a man across the street from the post office. That man chose not to give his name to The Mining Journal, but supports the All Lives Matter side of the debate.

Jalen Sims said he attended the protest for several reasons.

“Police brutality against Black people is the biggest one,” said Jalen Sims, who believes that in most cases, it’s for “no reason.”

One counter-protester, Travis Mulder of Humboldt, lent his support to the All Lives Matter side.

“I’m taking part tonight because I think this is wrong,” Mulder said. “These people are fascists. They’re tearing apart our cities. They’re tearing apart our monuments, our way of life. They want to change it here in America. I don’t want it changed, so I’m going to let my voice be heard, along with these other patriots, and we’re going to fight back.”

Mulder acknowledged there is racism, but he doesn’t believe it’s to the extent indicated by the protesters.

“When I went all over the country when I as a kid, yeah, I saw a lot of racism, but racism today? No, I don’t see it,” he said.

In one of his speeches to the crowd, Sims stressed that America was built by immigrants.

“We’re all immigrants,” he said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net