Levi James holds a sign at the intersection of Detroit and Center streets in Warsaw Saturday night, Nov. 7. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – On Saturday night as Joe Biden embraced victory in the presidential election against Donald Trump, there was a solitary protest in downtown Warsaw.

In a year filled with protests, Levi James became a recognizable figure in Warsaw in part because of his willingness to quietly stand alone at intersections with signs supporting Black Lives Matter.

He estimates he’s stepped out in protest more than a dozen times this year, including organized events in Warsaw and Fort Wayne. He could be seen on downtown street corners holding signs supporting BLM while doing his best to ignore occasional agitators, some of them armed.

And yet, he persisted.

On Saturday, hours after Biden had been declared the winner, James brought a sign to the corner of Center and Detroit Streets and stood in silent celebration in the same spot where Trump supporters had held numerous flag-waving rallies seeking four more years of Trump in the White House.

Unlike many other American towns on Saturday where people spilled into the streets to celebrate, James appeared to be the lone public celebrant in an overwhelmingly conservative community.

The other side of the sign James used Saturday night. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

James admitted he also came out to “poke” the other side just a little.

His sign read, “All Votes Matter” on one side. On the other, the words “4 More Years” with laughing/ crying emoticons lined up below.

Not everyone understood the sarcasm in the second message, but James didn’t seem to care.

James said he was moved to get visibly involved after the repeated killing of black people in police custody.

He said his goal has not been to agitate, but rather educate.

“I’m just tired of the hate, the ignorance, bigotry,” James said.

The 28-year-old Warsaw man has health issues and worries about maintaining health insurance of some kind.

The Bernie Sanders supporter said he does not blame Trump over the killing of blacks and unrest and said he’s unsure about the impact President-elect Biden can bring to the nation.

Levi James talks with two travelers Saturday night in downtown Warsaw. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.