The Altamont Enterprise reports that about 140 people came to the town park in Berne in southern Albany County on Aug. 9, most of them for a peaceful "Black Lives Matter" rally. They heard from CiCi Ferrara, who told what it is like to be the only African-American student in her class in the rural Berne-Knox-Westerlo district. “I knew others saw my brown skin and thought I did not belong,” she said. Ferrara told a story of unruly students on her school bus, and a girl stepping into the aisle next to Ferrara saying, “You guys need to stop it … You’re acting like a bunch of N-words.” And then she said in front of the large crowd, “I did not say anything.” Two dozen counter-protesters had a lot to say from the park's parking lot. Ken and Kelly Gonyea of Berne were there. “These organizations are burning down towns,” said Ken Gonyea. “I’m sure you’ve seen it on TV. They’re people getting attention by creating a racial divide.” Locally, there was a bit of violence and looting in Albany a few months ago, but since then counter-protesters were arrested with guns in Troy, there were threats to a Schoharie County Black Lives Matter protest, and a counter-protester on a motorcycle slightly hurt one of the pro-Black Lives Matter protesters in Greenville. Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky spoke to The Enterprise about that incident, saying, “a motorcycle came into contact with one of the protestors in a parking lot … There were no injuries or damage and the investigation is closed.” Another counter-protester in Berne who would not give his name but said he was from Rensselaerville said, “I’m here to make sure nothing gets desecrated in our town.” But there was little trouble at this event. Grace Nichols, just moved to Berne, and said she has two children who are half Mexican and half Asian. “It’s very important we’re one human family,” she said, “but people of color have not been treated like equal members of our family.” Read more about this story in The Altamont Enterprise.