Protesters from Black Lives Matter and Back The Blue lined both sides of East Clinton Street in Ithaca on Sunday.

Most of the Back the Blue participants stood in front of the police station, while others stood alongside Black Lives Matter protesters.

Protesters on both sides said they were there to support their perspective views, not to incite violence.

While the street separated the crowds and their opinions, one Black Lives Matter attendee said they do have some similarities.

"The similarities are humanity and our need for safety," said Leah Grady Sayvetz. "I think that’s where a lot of the Back the Blue folks are coming from. Everyone is interested in safety." 

But members from the opposing sides disagree on what safety looks like.

"When we need a police officer, when we have a bad accident, when I families in trouble, when we are in trouble, we need to know that there’s someone we can call and the police are who we call," said one Back the Blue protester.

"I’m here because communities of color are not getting safety and they’re actually being attacked," said Grady Sayvetz.

While the groups flew flags, and yelled chants, protesters on both sides called for action from the other.

"There’s no discussion because there’s no real discussion. I don’t know that there is common ground," said Rocco Lucente, a Back The Blue protester.

"For them to really take a deep look at what has been happening with the police after this, and how they’ve been killing people black and brown people and really have a discussion among themselves," said Phoebe Brown, a Black Lives Matter protester.