A small but vocal crowd gather on the green to cheer on the Back the Blue convoy. (MARC ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD- Despite the heat July 18, hundreds of people took part in a convoy = to show their support for local police departments amidst national protests against police brutality.
Truck driver and Westfield resident Brandon LaBranche organized the “Back the Blue” convoy because he wants people to differentiate between “good” and “bad” police officers in the country right now. Many participants flew police support flags from their vehicles as they honked their horns and cheered as they drove past the various police stations.
The moving demonstration began at the large parking lot for the salt piles on Union Street before vehicles began lining up to drive to other local towns. The convoy went from Westfield to police departments in Southwick, Agawam and West Springfield. The Southwick Fire Department hung a large American Ffag from one of its engines while some Southwick police stood outside their department and waved to the drivers.
The convoy returned to Westfield where participants then took to the Park Square Green to spread their message. The event, like others that recently took place in Westfield and Southwick, remained largely peaceful throughout.
“It went really well, a lot better than I thought it would,” said LaBranche. “We didn’t have any issues in any of the four towns we went through.”
LaBranche said in the days leading up to the demonstration that while they did this to support police, he wanted to differentiate it from the “Blue Lives Matter” cause that sprung up to counter “Black Lives Matter.”
“It’s because Blue Lives Matter is more of a counter movement against Black Lives Matter, whereas for this we are just trying to show our support for the police,” said LaBranche, “This isn’t a protest, it is more of a demonstration of support.”
LaBranche said that the notion of doing something similar again in the future seemed popular amongst members of the Facebook communities that helped organize the event. He said he was not sure if he would personally lead the charge again.
“I need a break from that after this one,” he said.
