MARSHFIELD, MASS. (WHDH) - A protest in honor of George Floyd and against police brutality was postponed on Friday in Marshfield.
A few protesters showed up and took a knee at a Marshfield park on Friday afternoon, but the event was officially postponed due to several concerns.
One organizer said he’s not sure what the specific concern was that caused them to pull the plug on the demonstration until further notice.
“There were a lot of racist comments made on the Facebook page, that was really upsetting to see,” organizer Andrew Fitch said.
He thinks some organizers did feel some pressure to cancel the event.
Marshfield police chief Phil Tavares says his department did not make the ultimate decision.
“We just advised of the risks that were involved, and the organizer used common sense and weighed the risks. And there was no harm pushing it a little further down the road,” Tavares said.
The concerns raised by the police department were around social distancing, Antifa and outside agitators potentially taking advantage of the protest.
Fitch said he was concerned about groups like Antifa, but said “I suppose that would have been a possibility.”
Sabrina Holland, a main organizer for the event, said she was told there were “credible threats of safety concerns.”
“And Marshfield community members’ safety is my top priority so we had to cancel it, but the passion didn’t get canceled,” she said of the few protesters that showed.
The protest is scheduled for next weekend and organizers hope 1,000 people show up.
Tavares displayed his support for the demonstrators by joining them and taking a knee for about 15 minutes on Friday.
“We’re angry too. A few police officers that did the wrong thing reflects on all of us,” Tavares said.
Holland said she loved the gesture.
“I think that’s what every single officer should be doing across this country, we need them to stand with us,” she said.
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