Hundreds gather to 'Back the Blue' in Fort Worth
September 8,2015
Reposted from WFAA 8
FORT WORTH — It was red hot Monday in downtown Fort Worth, which made it even more impressive that hundreds came to back the blue.
Nanette Samuelson held a microphone on a portable stage near the Fort Worth Convention Center.
"I want to hear from the silent majority," she yelled. The crowd roared back with excitement.
While speaking in front of a large crowd is normally out of Samuelson's comfort zone, she said she couldn't stay silent after the murder of Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth.
Samuelson is a BNSF railroad worker with no personal connection to law enforcement.
"Only that they protect us every day," she said. "That's my connection."
She said she also had never launched an event on Facebook before the Labor Day event.
"No, I have never done anything like this before," she said with a smile. "It's just overwhelming that this has come together."
Samuelson messaged the Fort Worth Police Officers Association last week with her idea to launch a supportive rally. They got her in touch with Jason Baldwin, a bank employee, who also wanted to do something.
They came up with Main Street Backs the Blue, which attracted attendees such as Mayor Betsy Price and Congresswoman Kay Granger.
"There's just not a better time or way to celebrate Labor Day than to thank the people who labor to keep us safe," Granger told the crowd.
It was hard to gauge the size of the gathering at first. Crowds hid beneath shaded trees around General Worth Square. Then, Samuelson called to them.
"If we could all get together in the street," she said. "We're going to take a huge selfie."
As the crowd filled Main Street for the photo, Fort Worth officers got the picture. Deputy Chief Kenneth Dean said that in his nearly 24 years in uniform, he's never seen such a demonstration.
"The citizens of Fort Worth have always supported us," he said. "And this is a fantastic showing of that."
They gave up part of their holiday, and a lot their personal comfort, to send a personal message. Not bad for a couple of private citizens who just wanted to say "we got your back."