There is a Back the Blue March planned Friday in Iowa City. The event is a joint effort between multiple groups and will begin at 5 p.m.
The group will start at College Green Park and march around the park. Students are expected to attend from Grand View, Drake and Iowa State as well.
Arielle Chambers, the National Assistant Director at BLEXIT America, will speak. According to Blexit’s website, the group is dedicated to the advancement of urban and minority communities by encouraging youth to seek and take advantage of opportunities in 21st Century America. BLEXIT promotes educational initiatives, pursues criminal justice reform, educates minority communities regarding America’s founding principles and highlights the importance of free markets and entrepreneurship as the antidote to poverty.
“I am going to be talking about the real facts behind ‘police brutality’ and race in America,” Chambers said. “I’m going to highlight how there isn’t a systemic racism problem but a systemic culture problem facing black America perpetuated by the Left.”
Gabriel Nadales, a former member of Antifa, is also speaking.
“I am speaking on my journey from a former member of Antifa to a friend of liberty and supporter of those who protect it – the police,” Nadales said.
Rick McIntosh, Republican candidate for Polk County Sheriff, is also going to share a message.
The event is organized by America Backs the Blue: Iowa Chapter, BLEXIT, Turning Point USA at the University of Iowa and the Leadership Institute.
