SWAMPSCOTT — Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and President Donald Trump clashed during opposing protests near Monument Avenue Thursday morning.
The battle lines were clearly drawn at the outset of the two hour demonstration.
One large group of protesters wielding “Black Lives Matter” signs stood at the entrance of Monument Avenue, while another large group of demonstrators sporting “Make America Great Again” hats camped directly across the street outside the Mission on the Bay restaurant.
It was a scene, complete with shouted insults being hurled back and forth, that could be described as a microcosm of the political divide seen across the country, which has been amplified by the upcoming presidential election.
“We have been here for 20 weeks for President Trump and ‘Back the Blue,” said Dianna Ploss, a former conservative radio talk show host who describes herself as a MAGA activist. “Every week, we support the president and our law enforcement officers. We also support All Lives Matter.”
Ploss, of Gloucester, has been leading weekly protests outside Gov. Charlie Baker’s Monument Avenue home since April, which have been aimed at pressing him to reopen the state’s economy.
One such demonstration was held this past Sunday, she said, while bemoaning the lack of press coverage that accompanied that effort and chiding Baker for not being a real Republican for the livestream she was shooting of Thursday’s event.
But the overarching theme in recent weeks has been to show support for the president and law enforcement officers, which prompted one Swampscott teenager to start counter protesting on Thursday mornings three weeks ago.
“The first week, I was alone, but then people started joining me after an hour,” said Reece Kluska, 19, who explained the presence of the weekly Trump rallies was sending a certain kind of message to the people who were driving by about who lives in Swampscott.
It was a narrative that he wanted to change. So, Kluska showed up one day with his “Black Lives Matter” sign and positioned himself, alone, outside one such rally.
“I wanted people to know we think Black lives matter,” said Kluska. “It’s really to show people in Swampscott and driving through that this is safe for them.”
His efforts caught the attention of Marblehead resident, Jen Spungin, who happened to see Kluska alone with his sign one morning.
All summer long, Spungin said she had been driving through Swampscott during the weekly Trump rallies, but didn’t do anything to intervene until “one day, I saw a young boy holding a sign alone, counterprotesting.”
So, Spungin, 50, decided to stop to join in, and along with several other people, she posted his efforts on Facebook.
From there, the Black Lives Matter counter protests grew each week, which culminated in the crowds that showed up for both sides on Thursday.
“Our real goal being here is to show support and not engage,” said Spungin. “Across the street, they’re trying to antagonize us. We’re just trying to show support and that Black lives matter.”
But Lynn resident Angel Geraldino sees things differently.
A former Democrat, Geraldino, 43, said he became disillusioned with the political party after President Barack Obama failed to bring about any changes that he had promised, in terms of immigration reform.
“Me being Dominican — he didn’t bring about any changes,” said Geraldino. “I knew then that they were not serious about their campaign promises.”
Geraldino, who was decked out in his MAGA hat, said he wants to support Trump.
“It’s an election year,” he said. “These are real instances that make you want to switch parties. I used to be a Democrat. Not anymore.”
