Following the death of George Floyd and the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, support for law enforcement has come to the forefront. The movement, known as Blue Lives Matter, is to show that police officers are appreciated and supported.
“The end goal of the rallies is to inspire others to show their support of our LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) and first responders. [The gatherings] are meant to raise the level of positivity within our community, and to remind law enforcement that they are not ever alone,” said Lindsay Conyers, one of the leaders of the Laramie Blue Lives Matter movement.
According to Conyers, there is no personal glory for people attending the rallies.
“It is less about Laramie hearing our group’s message and more about the LEOs hearing how much Laramie cares about and supports them,” Conyers said.
Conyers said she attends the rallies because of her family legacy of bleeding blue and wants to support those who keep the community safe.
In a statement from the Laramie Human Rights Network (LHRN), they said, “We wouldn’t really consider it protesting since they’re supporting the government and the status quo.”
There are conflicting statements from both the Blue Lives Matter movement and LHRN about harassment each has faced.
According to the LHRN, some members of the Black Lives Matter movement were a part of a Facebook group for the Blue Lives Matter movement but were blocked and harassed. The LHRN said they were a part of the group, not to harass the Blue Lives Matter movement, but to be informed.
Conyers said she is not worried about clashing with the Black Lives Matter movement but there have been occasional drive bys with individuals shouting “expletives or Black Lives Matter” at them. Conyers said they have children with them during the Blue Lives Matter rallies.
“Both matter, it’s the context within each group that separates it,” said an anonymous student. “The Black Lives Matter movement, not the organization, are looking for equal and fair treatment in the eyes of the law. Both groups want their represented people to be treated fairly and not let their lives be forfeit.”
According to a poll conducted through social media for this article, 3 students said that the Blue Lives Matter and the Black Lives Matter movement were equally important. Five students said they supported the Blue Lives Matter Movement and 38 students said they supported the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Blue Lives Matter rallies have happened in Laramie at the corner of 3rd and Grand intermittently over the past few months.
