It’s time the nation stands up for the hard-working men and women of law enforcement who risk their lives every single day. Fortunately, small groups around the country are doing just that, with “Back the Blue” rallies. Going against the grain of what’s currently popular by protesting, rioting and looting under the guise of a Black Lives Matter movement, some communities are showing their gratitude to those who keep them safe.
Rallies are being held in areas including Las Cruces, New Mexico, Spotsylvania, Virginia, Martin County, Florida, and Grass Valley, California. Although the crowd sizes have been small in comparison to the marches and gatherings inspired by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd, their support makes a mighty statement.
In addition to supporting law enforcement, the rallies are objections to defunding the police. “It started a few weeks ago with the defund the police movement, and we thought it’s time to give the police a little bit of love,” said Back the Blue rally organizer Bethany Denkers.
In Palm City, Florida, hundreds gathered on June 21st for a Back the Blue rally. The crowd was filled with a sea of American flags and Back the Blue signs. “I think it was absolutely disgusting and horrifying what happened in Minneapolis to Mr. Floyd,” said Tamara Smith of Stuart, Florida. “It makes me so mad at that cop because of the repercussions that is happening today with law enforcement” she added.
The wife of a police officer at a Virginia Back the Blue rally explained, “my husband, along with all of his co-workers, put their lives on the line every single day and are being persecuted for a job they hold, instead of the people they are, which is upstanding” said Katie Rasmussen. “We owe it to our men and women in blue to show them they are not alone, not everyone has abandoned them, and we believed in ‘defend not defund,’ Our country needs law and order to function, and we support those who keep it.”
