Hundreds of people turned out to show their support of law enforcement at a Back the Blue event held July 25 in downtown Franklin.
Supporters walked up Main Street, then surrounded the town gazebo to hear several speakers urge them to back police. The event attracted an estimated 500 people who packed town square.
“Thank you to every man and woman, present past and future law enforcement officers that are here today serving, protecting each and every one of us,” said sheriff Robert Holland, who organized the event. “I want you to know: You are not forgotten.
“And the families who give so much to allow your husbands and your wives, your friends and family to serve,” Holland said. “You are not forgotten. Thank you for your service.”
The Rev. Michael Stevens, who helped stage the rally, said it’s more important than ever to back the blue.
“These brave men and women have been tasked with the very difficult responsibility to keep our community safe,” Stevens said. “And with recent events the task has been even greater. Sometimes there’s no elegant way to protect the sheep from the wolves.”
The sheriff’s wife, Marci Holland, described what it’s like to be the spouse of a law enforcement officer.
“Most of society will never know what goes through our minds as spouses behind the badge,” she said. “I have watched in shock and disbelief as an entire profession has been allowed to be demonized because of the actions of a very few. I, along with all of you here today, am taking a public stand to denounce that notion.”
The event also served to honor North Carolina law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during 2019. That ceremony, held annually in May, was cancelled this year. Franklin police chief Bill Harrell and Highlands police chief Andrea Holland participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the lost officers.
Sheriff Holland said that recent events have made officers’ work even harder.
“We are here today to show the support to the men and women of law enforcement, and to their families,” Holland said. “We are not here to cuss anybody. We are not here to say negative things.
“We had a couple of protests, and you had some bad apples in those protests,” he said. “But you also had good people. You had people who have a right to stand up for what they believe in. I’m not going to say that all those people are bad, just like what they’re doing to law enforcement today.”
Michaela Blanton Lowe, the wife of slain N.C. Highway Patrol trooper Shawn Blanton, stepped up to the podium and shared her tragic experience. Trooper Blanton was shot to death in 2008 during a traffic stop in Canton. The couple’s son, born prematurely, died two weeks later.
“His dash-cam footage captured some of his last words, saying ‘my wife, my brand new kid.”
Lowe urged those in attendance to “Spread kindness. … We can make the world a better place and make our heroes jobs a little easier. … Help them to feel loved and appreciated, and remind them that God is with them.”