Protesters supporting the Black Lives Matter movement returned to Palmerton Friday night along with counterprotesters showing support for police.

There were several civil conversations and some more heated ones between a handful of BLM protesters who crossed the park to talk directly with the other side.

The two protest groups each had a few dozen supporters in attendance.

“We’re not done doing this, we’re not just going to give up on Palmerton, we’re not afraid of them coming out here and yelling at us, we’re not backing down because we’re here to stand here until Black Lives Matter to everybody,” said Sierra Hahn, who helped organize the event.

The BLM event was organized as a sit-in outside the park’s bandshell. Once again, a group of protesters supporting police set up surrounding the Palmerton Veterans Memorial.

Like on July 18, Palmerton Police officers were in the park throughout the evening. They spoke to at least one protester on each side who became irate with the protest methods of the other side.

This time, the counterprotesters did not cross the park and directly protest the BLM supporters. Instead, Hahn and Jose Ortiz, who organized the event, made efforts to have conversations with the people who came to protest against them.

The majority of the BLM protesters stayed near the bandshell and did not engage with the counter protesters.

Ortiz said he crossed the park because he wanted to explain the goals of his organization, Small Town Peaceful Protest.

“What the media is showing is completely different than what we’re about. We’re about peace love and equality, but we support the Black Lives Matter movement. We need black lives to matter in order to achieve that goal of peace, love and equality,” Ortiz said.

Hahn said there is a misperception that the protests she has organized are going to turn violent. She said that she has participated in protests in towns around the Lehigh Valley and beyond, and none have resulted in violence or property destruction.

“We’ve been doing this for months in different towns around the area. Nothing’s been violent, no rioting, just peaceful all around,” she said.

Those who came out to “back the blue” had mixed opinions on the BLM protesters presence in Palmerton, both during the July 18 protest and other smaller demonstrations which took place before and after.

Laura Seo addressed Hahn directly about a sign she held during an earlier protest comparing police officers to pigs, calling it repulsive and unnecessary. Hahn said she regretted holding the sign, but Seo demanded that she apologize to the Palmerton officers who were patrolling the protest.

“Have accountability for yourself to stand in front of a police station, of men that did nothing, and be that disrespectful and think that somebody won’t speak up to protect honest men because of your actions,” Seo said.

Lisa O’Brien told Ortiz she took issue with BLM protesters using a megaphone outside the Palmer House during smaller demonstrations which have taken place over the past few weeks. O’Brien said that at the time, her mother and other Palmer House residents were basically limited to their rooms and the front porch of the building.

“For a week straight they stood out there yelling,” O’Brien said. “They’re locked in tiny apartments. The only thing they had was coming out for air.”

Carolee Boyer, who wore a hat and T-shirt showing support for police officers, credited Ortiz for attempting to explain the goals of his organization, and listening and answering questions.

“He answered questions, he was respectful, helped to educate those that are here in support of Palmerton and not just our law enforcement but all law enforcement. And he helped explain what the STOP group, what they’re attempting to do,” Boyer said.

Outside the bandshell, the other BLM protesters spoke among themselves about their movement, sitting on blankets.

Patrick Driscoll said that after seeing videos from the July 18 protest, he wanted to show his support for the movement in his town.

“Seeing it hit home finally was kind of the wake-up call - this is serious, and it’s still going,” he said.

Jerone Darden of Bethlehem performed a smudging ceremony adapted from the Lenni Lenape. The tribe would burn herbs like sage to remove negativity from an area or people.

“My part in all of this is to do the best I can to clear any negativity and to keep these people safe,” he said.