TAMPA, Fla. — As protests calling for change in policing and against systemic racism continue in the Bay area, two demonstrations with seemingly opposing messages taking place in Tampa at the same time led to heightened tensions and police blocking off an intersection near a department building.

First, a “Back the Blue” rally to support law enforcement after recent criticism took to the streets outside the Tampa Police Department's District 1 building on W. Tampa Bay Boulevard Saturday morning. 

Residents who took part in the march carried signs and banners and chanted "Back the Blue" as they marched.

“Yes, there are bad police officers," said Jack Fernandez of Tampa. "There’s bad farmers, there’s bad doctors, there’s bad teachers. You can’t just judge all of these officers based on an incident.” 

“I will support the people who want to change the racial climate in this country, but I’m also going to support my men and women in blue,” said Tamara Sugar of Tampa.

Not long after, a Black Live Matter counter-protest took to the same street. The two protests faced off — on one side, Black Lives Matter, and on the other side, Back the Blue. 

It quickly became a battle over whose voice could be louder.

“A badge isn’t a race, so when cops sign up to serve and protect their communities, they should know that then they’re taking that job,” said Nia, who declined to give her last name. 

There were a few times when police had to intervene to make sure things stayed under control. Eventually, they had to shut down W. Tampa Bay Boulevard at N. Dale Mabry Highway due to the crowds.

Both sides yelled back and forth, trying to let their voices be heard.

One protester said it all just comes down to being human.

“You have to be happy with yourself and you have to be right with God, and in order to that, then you can go out and be right with everybody else,” said Chris Metz of Pinellas County.

Though tensions ran high, the demonstrations remained relatively peaceful.