Anti-Beyonce protest overwhelmed by anti-anti-Beyonce protesters
NEW YORK -- The call for the anti-Beyonce protest was strident in its language, calling her Super Bowl halftime show a "race-baiting stunt." They, and many other conservatives, claimed it was disrespectful to police officers.
The pop superstar's performance included an homage to both to Malcolm X and the Black Panther movement.
However the fervor of the message from a group of murky origin (it appears to have been formed solely for the protest that almost no one showed up to) ended up drawing out Beyonce supporters en masse to NFL headquarters in Manhattan on Tuesday.
The group that calls itself "Proud of the Blues" posted the call for an anti-Beyonce protest in Midtown Manhattan on Facebook and a few other places, but according to reporters at the scene, it appears none of the organizers themselves showed up.
New York Magazine reports it appears at most three people either supporting the police or against the pop superstar showed up during the protest times. One was allegedly a Ted Cruz campaign volunteer.
Members of the NYPD and NFL security were ready for the dueling protests, which were both set to begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
About three dozen anti-anti-Beyonce demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk, but felt let down when their opposition didn't materialize, reports CBS New York.
"I'm disappointed," protester Spencer Jones said. "I really wanted to talk to them and hear their side. I'm not sure why they're not here, I am kind of sad about that, but I still think coming out here was worth it."
"Coming out here today, we just wanted to be a counter voice to that voice. That voice not being here says a lot about where they stand," another woman said. "They're not here. When they show up, we show up. They haven't shown up."
Meanwhile, Black Girl Rising organized a counter rally asking people to dress in black to show their support for Beyonce and the Black Panthers.
CBS New York has reached out to the organizer of the anti-Beyonce protest, but there has been no response.
The public voices against Beyonce have largely focused on what they claim is an attack against police.
"I found the entire show objectionable, was extolling the Black Panthers, who were a terrorist organization killing police officers in the 60s and 70s," said Rep. Peter King, (R-Long Island).
While presenting the final award during the 2016 Grammys, Beyonce appeared to speak to those critical of her performance. She said, "Art is the unapologetic celebration of culture through self-expression."