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Marjorie Taylor Greene to speak at 'Back the Blue' rally in Columbus, a day after Ma'Khia Bryant's funeral

While announcing her appearance at the rally set to take place May 1 at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, Greene had a few words of praise for Nicholas Reardon, the officer identified as the one who shot Bryant, calling him a 'hero'

Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has been invited to speak at a pro-police rally at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday morning, May 1, which incidentally is the day after the funeral for 16-year-old Black girl Ma’Khia Bryant who was shot and killed by a Columbus police officer last week after she appeared to be attacking another Black female. 

While announcing her appearance at the rally via a tweet, Greene had a few words of praise for Nicholas Reardon, the officer identified by Columbus Police as the one who shot Bryant. “I have been invited to speak at the #BackTheBlue & Freedom Rally at the Ohio State House this Saturday in Columbus. As we all saw on video, Officer Reardon saved the young woman’s life and should be treated like a hero. See y’all there!” she wrote. 

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'Back the Blue' rally

The rally is being organized by a group called Ohio Gun Owners. It is also set to feature Josh Mandel, a former state treasurer (2011-2019) and current candidate for the Republican nomination for US Senate. Former Ohio state legislator Ron Hood (R) is also scheduled to speak. The public will be able to access the rally for free. However, it will be held in a fenced area on the West Lawn of the Statehouse and will require registration to attend, according to the Columbus Dispatch. 

“I think it’s high time (that we let) the law enforcement community know that the regular, law-abiding community has their backs, we definitely support them,” said Chris Dorr, executive director of the group. “We didn’t want them to be forgotten, so it’s a good time to throw a rally in support of them.”

Apart from Mandel, an array of former and current lawmakers have been invited to speak. The West Lawn area will be fenced. “We want it to be a safe and family-friendly environment,” Dorr said. “Some people are more than happy to get violent today if they have a disagreement with a certain world view or political ideology, so we’re going to have it fenced off and make sure it’s a good, safe, friendly event for everybody.”

Ma'Khia Bryant's Funeral

Bryant is slated to be honored at the First Church of God on Friday, April 30. It is the same church that remembered the lives of Casey Goodson Jr and Andre Hill, the two Black men killed by Ohio police in the past few months. 

Ma'Khia's second cousin, Don Bryant, remembers the teen as beautiful and sweet and his family has now been trying to find the strength to say a final goodbye. "She was my little cousin and she really was a sweet girl. All around she was a good person and she enjoyed life,” said Don Bryant. "How can you prepare for that? We were okay yesterday. Today, as we get closer Ma'Khia's body is at the funeral home today, expected. Knowing that and that the days are getting closer to the funeral I am just trying to prepare myself,” said Bryant. "We know that it's not going to be a comfortable situation. It's going to be tough, very, very difficult.”