Loredana Yenick (center) lights Sharifah Rajchel's (left) candle during a vigil in Zelienople. Around 100 protesters lined the street corners at the intersection of Grandview Ave and Route 19 in Zeilienople Park for a candle light vigil promoting the Black Lives Matter movement.

The death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis on May 25 spurred protests across the country, but in Butler Bounty the social unrest mostly created social anxiety.

Rumors of out-of-state rioters prompted some local residents to counter the protests in Butler.

On June 2, social media sparked concerns that out-of-town protesters would run amok in Saxonburg borough.

The rumored protest led to residents lining Saxonburg's West Main Street, many dressed in army fatigues and armed with assault rifles and pistols.

About 15 police officers and other authorities converged on the borough in anticipation of violence, Saxonburg Police Chief Joe Beachem said.

But the violence never occurred. Instead, a handful of area residents gathered to protest Floyd's death.

“Every human is made in the image of God, but if you don't believe that, it's hard to see them as valuable as yourself,” said Ben Case, 29, who is the youth and adult director at Saxonburg Presbyterian Church.

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