The tight-knit community of Champaign, Illinois, has come together in support of its law enforcement after the town’s police department headquarters was targeted by vandals. Over 300 people showed up at a demonstration, performing prayer and public speaking in defense of local officers.
One of the organizers of the pro-police rally, Tim Voges, characterized the meeting as a show of support as well as a pledge to respect Champaign police.
City cleanup crews spent the next morning removing the graffiti, which included racial slurs in violation of Champaign’s Human Rights Ordinance and images that implied a threat to city employees.
“The City of Champaign supports peaceful protests and our residents’ rights to self-expression,” local officials explained in the press release, “however, the defacing of public property, like what occurred last night at the Champaign Police Department, will not be tolerated.”
The peaceful rally organized in response to the vandalism was held at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. The proceedings began with a prayer to unite the group in their common cause. Then a series of speakers took turns speaking.
Then a group of over 300 lined up on Champaign’s Race Street and waved American flags and held hand-painted signs with slogans like, “Champaign County supports our police” and “God Bless America.”
“It’s just kind of grown over the past month,” added fellow co-organizer, Roberta Irwin. “People from all over are tired of being quiet and they want an avenue to show they want to back the police officers.”
