By Police1 Staff
LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of Los Angeles police officers joined members of their community in a “Blue Lives Matter” rally in Hollywood, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Sept. 26 rally was reportedly intended to show support for the department and officers around the country amidst cop killings.
The crowd gathered in front of the CNN building and marched to the Hollywood Police Station. Motorists sounded their support by honking their horns.
We are encouraged and thankful to our community for organizing this great support for @LAPD today! pic.twitter.com/pvo7waFVNy
— LAPPL (@LAPPL) September 27, 2015
“There’s something weird and scary going on right now — police are being assassinated,” Blue Lives supporter Annie Bergin told the publication. “I’m here to show that I strongly support the LAPD and law enforcement officers everywhere who risk their lives each day to keep us safe.”
The Los Angeles Police Protective League organized the event to counteract anti-police demonstrations nationwide. The organization has 10,000 members and is growing in places like New York, Chicago and Atlanta. The league’s vice president, Jarretta Sandoz, spoke to the crowd about strengthening their cause.
“Now, we’re searching for a unifying catch phrase and symbol that will send this message: Enough is enough,” Sandoz said in her speech. “There’s just too much negativity throughout the country related to police work.”
Supporters and police officers echoed her sentiments to the publication.
“Police are being marginalized and demonized by a small segment of society with views that are magnified by the media,” LAPD Newton Division Officer John Redican told the paper.
The rally is an attempt to lessen the negative perception of cops by trying to get the public to understand an officer’s perspective, according to the report.
“We are out there trying to keep the wolves away from our doors,” Redican told the publication.