Community Corner
Mayor Wants Manchester To Light Up Blue For Police
Mayor Ken Palmer is urging residents to put blue light bulbs in their outdoor lights as an expression of support.
MANCHESTER, NJ — As the country continues to mourn police officers who were shot to death in Dallas and Baton Rouge in recent days, the outpouring of support for law enforcement has come from many areas.
Law enforcement agencies have changed their Facebook profiles to various symbols of mourning for those killed -- five law enforcement officers in Dallas and three in Baton Rouge, and thousands of people have shared other photos of support.
In Manchester Township, Mayor Ken Palmer took to Facebook to urge residents to light up Manchester in blue.
Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"My ears, eyes and heart cannot believe the utter horror we have seen over the past couple of weeks. Violence against our police will never be the solution or tolerated. We are a nation of laws that define what's right and wrong. Our police enforce those laws. By doing so they put themselves in the line of fire so we can be safe," he wrote.
"How can the police here in Manchester and across the country not feel enraged, confused and scared — they are only human. These senseless killings only cause more anger and drive a wedge between the police and those who feel under-represented, abused and ignored," Palmer wrote. "As the Chief of Police of Dallas said, he's accepting applications for those willing to fix the problem. On my end, here locally, as your mayor I ask each of you to show our support for 'our' police department by lighting up this town in blue."
Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Please go and put a blue light in your outside fixtures, tie some blue ribbons on your trees and thank our officers if you get a chance," he said.
Palmer wants residents to keep the keep the blue lights on until National Night Out, Aug. 2.
"Thank you Manchester PD and all law enforcement across the country," he said.
Resident Gina Girgenti shared the photo of the blue light on her home on Commonwealth (at the top of this article) with the mayor and with the Patch.
What are you doing to show your support for law enforcement? Email your photos to karen.wall@patch.com.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
