LOWELL, Mich. — A group of protesters marched in downtown Lowell today to support the city's ex-police chief and the Second Amendment.
The protest began at noon at the library parking lot, and the crowd, looking to be around 100 people, marched up and down the sidewalks of Main Street, as passing cars honked.
Watch the protest
Police chief's resignation
The city said Thursday then-police chief Steve Bukala resigned from his position.
The move came after a post was made Tuesday to the police department's Facebook page, informing the public that four men would be walking down Main Street with their guns, according to a 22-page response from the city to a Freedom of Information Act request from FOX 17.
The post also included this line, which was later removed: “We at the Lowell Police Department support the legally armed citizen and the Second Amendment.”
Lowell City Manager Michael Burns gave Bukala until 5 p.m. on June 4 to resign or he would be terminated, according to the FOIA response.
See more on Bukala's resignation.
The protest
Some of the protesters walked with rifles or handguns at their sides.
There were American flags throughout the crowd, a thin blue line American flag, a "Don't tread on me" flag, one man with a Confederate flag draped over his shoulder and two women riding horses on Main Street with American flags.
The protest was set up to "remain peaceful to get our point across," with a call to "back the blue," according to a Facebook post on the protest.
Many held signs saying "Back the blue" and in support of Bukala.
After 1 p.m., the protesters were still marching.
