A Back the Blue rally, sponsored by the Northampton County Tea Party and promoted by The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Group, took place Aug. 11 at Bethlehem’s Payrow Plaza. The rally was to support the police, in response to a rumor that Bethlehem City Council was planning to defund the police department.

But Council member Olga Negron refuted that rumor.

“Not even one member of council has spoken about such [a move]”, she said when asked about the rally and its purpose. She added that defunding the police was not the focus of the Public Safety Committee meeting held in the City Hall Rotunda that same evening.

The rally had a political flavor, beginning with opening remarks from Republican Scott Hough, who is running against incumbent Democrat Steve Samuelson for a seat in the Pennsylvania House. Hough spoke of his support of the police, and urged residents of the Northampton portion of Bethlehem to vote for him in the fall.

About 100 people attended the rally. Many came to show their support for the police. Others came in support of the Republican party. Trump banners, the American flag, and Back the Blue flags were displayed.

Mia, who was walking by with her friend and did not give her last name, was curious about the blue and black Back the Blue flags.

“I wanted to see why people had blue flags,” she said. The flags were produced in 2014, to show support for America’s police. The narrow blue line on the flag represents the police, protecting the country. The flag was controversially displayed at a white supremacist event in Charlottesville in 2017, leading to some confusion as to its meaning.

Kay MacGregor said “I think our police departments need support from the community ... we need more funding, not less.”

Don S. said he came to the rally, “To support the police and all public safety in Bethlehem. We don’t need to defund the police. We could use more police.”

Mark Bogunovich said, “I don’t want to see the police defunded. I don’t want an increase in crime.”

Mike Garcia said, “It’s sad they are trying to blame President Trump. There is no respect for the police. Defunding takes dollars away from the people who defend the citizens.”