A "Back the Blue" rally in Binghamton was met with a Black Lives Matter counter-protest Tuesday evening.

Organizers say they wanted to honor the local police department in the midst of criticism of officers across the country. Others gathered in opposition to the rally and displayed signs that condemned police and supported black lives matter.

One Back the Blue organizer says he can understand why there's been such an outrage.

"Do I know that there are bad policeman in the world? Of course. Do I know there are bad car mechanics? Of course. But if a car mechanic in Colorado does something horrible and a family of four dies, I don't go to my car mechanic in Binghamton and say, ‘you mechanics are horrible.’ I say, ‘let's make sure our mechanics are qualified and able,’ that's what we do," says local resident Ed Hickey.

Around 150 people attended the rally.