McGrath asserted that the police groups do not object to the banner itself, but that it was not appropriate for it to be hung on a public building.
A crowd of media people almost as large as the assembled crowd itself took note of McGrath’s and other’s remarks.

McGrath assured everyone that the police support the goal of the BLM movement, equal treatment under the law, but that they find the banner’s message to be disrespectful of police officers.

The protest, highly anticipated by the public, was organized shortly after a letter to the mayor expressing the police groups’ displeasure with the banner was leaked to the media.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone publicly responded to news of the intended protest, saying in part, “We believe everyone has a role to play in advancing public health and public safety. We shouldn’t be policing the way we did 30 years ago. We believe in training our officers to deal with society today, and we believe we’re leading the way. So if the head of the Patrolmen’s union wants to step up and be part of the dialogue, the door is open.”

In the interim, groups such as the NAACP have expressed their support for the mayor’s decision to keep the banner on display at City Hall.

After the gathering at city hall broke up, a Black Lives Matter group that had been holding a peaceful demonstration at Union Square came up to City Hall to engage in dialog and show their support for the BLM movement.