New London — Concerns over disruptions and possible demonstrations have led to the postponement of a Blue Lives Matter rally scheduled for Thursday.

Lori Hopkins-Cavanagh, founder of the American Liberty Center and organizer of the rally, said the event was supposed to be a nonconfrontational show of gratitude and support for police given the recent assassination of officers in Baton Rouge, La., and Dallas, Texas.

But almost immediately after her announcement about the event Monday at a City Council meeting, Hopkins-Cavanagh said negative and inflammatory comments started flooding her Facebook page from supporters of what she called “anti-police groups."

No specific groups were cited, she said.

She has since removed those comments with the announcement of the postponement.

“I don’t want to conduct a rally that is supposed to be positive amidst a ruckus and a circus,” she said.

Shanee' Ladson-Varnell of New London, who is in the beginning stages of organizing a sanctioned Black Lives Matter group in the New London area, said she was not surprised there was a backlash over the Blue Lives Matter event.

"I can see the general public being outraged because this whole Blue Lives Matter movement came in direct response, and in opposition to, the Black Lives Matter movement," she said.

Black Lives Matter was formed in 2012 after George Zimmerman was acquitted on charges he murdered Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Blue Lives Matter started after two New York Police Department officers were killed in their patrol car in 2014.

"I appreciate law enforcement. They have a really important job," Ladson-Varnell said. "But this is a job they chose. Being a black person is not something I chose."

Ladson-Varnell said she had looked forward to meeting with police and city officials for serious discussions on topics that include equal treatment and alleviation of fear between police and the black community.

Hopkins-Cavangh said she envisioned an event that would recognize the sacrifice of the officers in New London and elsewhere and include officers’ spouses and children.

The event was slated to start at police headquarters and end at the Parade downtown.

“Unfortunately, police officers now have a target on their backs,” Hopkins-Cavanagh said. “Violent anti-police messaging has not only created an increase in the number of police deaths this year but has resulted in a surge of violence in our inner cities.”

She said American Liberty Center will reorganize and hopes to bring the event to a different venue at a later date.

Prior to announcement of the postponement, New London Police Officer Todd Lynch, who is the local police union president, said the effort was appreciated.

Because of the late notice of the event, he said it was unclear how much involvement officers would have had.

He said any individual or community support would reflect well “not only the men and women of the New London Police Department but law enforcement officers across the country who are under attack for no other reason than the job they perform.”

Hopkins-Cavanagh said she understands the protests over civil rights violations and said “everyone should be treated with respect and care.”

But she said she was concerned about the rhetoric from protest groups that threaten to further divide the society by race.

“It seems to me we’ve taken a step backwards in race relations,” she said.

g.smith@theday.com