Back the Badge, Black Lives Matter groups compete for attention on Losey

Demonstrators from two separate groups lined up on opposite sides of Losey Boulevard in La Crosse on Saturday morning to rally for their causes.

One group supporting police and Republican candidates for office held up signs and sang “God Bless America,” mostly on the east side of Losey.

Standing opposite them on the west side of the street were picketers supporting the “Black Lives Matter” movement, including some who have taken part in recent demonstrations at Riverside Park and City Hall.

Republican Congressional candidate Jessi Ebben was among the “Back the Badge” demonstrators, who announced their intention to rally on Losey several days ago.

The two groups stood at the intersection of Losey and State Road for the better part of an hour, until Ebben and her supporters departed for another planned rally downtown outside of Congressman Ron Kind’s office.

Ebben has been critical of Democrat Kind for not denouncing calls to defund police departments, following the death of George Floyd while under arrest in Minneapolis.