On the day two deputy sheriffs were ambushed in Los Angeles, marchers turned out in Kansas City to show their support for law enforcement. About 140 people participated in the We Back Blue march from Washington Square Park to police headquarters downtown on Saturday.
Melissa Robey, the founder of We Black Blue, said the purpose of the march was simply “supporting our men and women in uniform.” Robey said she was inspired by her sister, who is in law enforcement. But when she saw retired police officer David Dorn killed in St. Louis, she said she was motivated to become active.
Dorn’s wife, Anne Marie, joined the march in Kansas City Saturday.
The march was the 23rd of its kind since the organization launched events in major cities after Dorn was killed in August. The march followed recent protests against police brutality and demands by local civil rights groups for the resignation of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith and local control of the police department.
READ: Back the Blue rally held prior to Topeka City Council’s special session draws large crowd
We Back Blue marchers took to the sidewalk around noon, walking behind an ATV adorned with flags and signs that led them on the milelong course to police headquarters, where they met about 20 more people for a rally featuring several speakers. Most of the speakers expressed concern about calls to defund the police. Others raised mental health concerns.
“I’m just so supportive and so concerned,” said Linda, who asked not to use her last name because her son is a Kansas City police officer. “It’s scary times. I’m worried about the world right now. I want law enforcement to know that people support them. We all don’t think they’re terrible monsters and we appreciate what they do.”
Cecilia S. Johnson, the founder of Hood Conservatives, was one of several speakers who addressed the crowd. She talked about getting tased and arrested as a teenager for assaulting a police officer in school. “As I got older and I matured, I started to learn that there is a blessing in every single situation if you choose to learn the lesson from that situation,” she said.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice