Springfield Commissioner Bob Layden with some of the rally participants
A crowd of well over a thousand stretched along the north side of Baltimore Pike in Springfield, Pa. from Bishop Avenue to past West Avenue this afternoon, Jan. 4, to let police know they were appreciated. They held signs featuring a thin blue line across a black ground. Some wore shirts saying “all lives mattered.” Motorists honked their horn in support and gave thumbs up. A quad-copter drone flew overhead, presumably recording the event.
The mood was festive and all seemed in a good mood. Springfield Police Chief Joseph Daly walked through the crowd shaking hands. New 26th District State Sen. Tom McGarrigle was on hand as were Springfield commissioners including Bob Layden of the 6th Ward.
The rally was the idea of Amanda Viglione, a Delaware County deputy sheriff, and organized by herself and Bill Ruane of Clifton Heights.
It was in response to riots and demonstrations inspired by the deaths of Michael Brown on Aug. 9 in Feguson, Mo. and Eric Garner on July 17 in New York City during attempts to take them into custody.
Demonstrably false but inflammatory claims were made regarding police behavior which were spread uncorrected by news media and public figures. The hate this caused for those who wear the badge resulted in the deaths of at least two officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, who were executed, Dec. 20, while they sat in their car in New York City. The hate-filled coward who murdered them took his own life soon afterwards.
New State Sen. Tom McGarrigle with rally participants.
The scene on Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Pa., Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4. The event started about 2 p.m. and lasted past 4 o’clock.