After a rally in support of America and police officers in Fort Worth, three members of the city council say there are no discussions of cutting taxpayer dollars from the Fort Worth Police Department. In fact, one councilman says the discussion is about how to increase taxpayer funding of public safety.
After months of protests and riots across America, demanding either the elimination of police departments or cutting taxpayer funds from them, a diverse group of around 450 patriots marched throughout Fort Worth last Saturday in support of police officers and American values.
In contrast to the rage seen at many anti-Trump and anti-police protests across the nation, the theme of this rally was counter to the narratives that media typically assigns to grassroots activists. “One thing Martin Luther King used to say,” a black American told the crowd, “… love.”
“If we do not have love, we are nothing,” added Michael, another black American who led the Back the Blue supporters in prayer.
Contrary to narratives from legacy media and Democrats, the march wasn’t attended solely by white Americans, and the majority of speakers were not white. Republican congressional candidate Fabian Cordova and Republican state representative candidate Elva Camacho were among those who addressed the crowd, along with Porsha Jackson, a black member of the Frederick Douglass Republicans of Tarrant County.
Even the event organizer, Carlos Turcios, isn’t white.
“As an 18-year-old, I believe patriots need to push back against the radical forces that are trying to destroy America,” Turcios told Texas Scorecard. “So, I organized this march and plan on organizing more.”
He said the purpose of the rally was to “back the blue and defend America.”
Some tried to label the event as one put together by cops, something the grassroots activists soundly rejected. “It was constituents from the neighborhood who put this together for the police … for America to get together,” one of the speakers said. “This wasn’t just for the police. This was for everybody.”
“Thank you so much for showing up, for being here and being a part of this,” Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn told the crowd. “Love will conquer all.”
To gauge the city council’s response to the rally, Texas Scorecard sent press inquiries to every councilmember.
Only Councilmembers Gyna Bivens and Cary Moon and Mayor Pro-Tem Jungus Jordan replied.
“I have the same response to Saturday’s rally as I did for the United My Justice rallies: The right to peacefully assemble is a right we all have,” Bivens replied. “None of us on the city council has held discussions on the question you raise about funding.”
“My first priority is to ensure our community is safe,” Jordan said. “Faced with continuing growth of our city, we can ill afford ‘defunding’ our public safety programs. One needs only to look at the crime in those cities who have failed to adequately fund, support, and train professional public safety programs and police officers. Please know I stand with the men and women of the Fort Worth Police Department.”
“Saturday’s rally in Fort Worth was great and a timely showing of appreciation for our police in our city, state, and nation,” Moon said. “More rallies are welcomed. The only conversations at city hall on police budget dollars will be on how we increase dollars for public safety.”
When addressing concerns about police accountability and transparency, Moon listed programs in effect within the police department. “Over the last couple years, our city has done tremendous work to improve community policing: banning chokeholds, body camera requirements, use-of-force continuum; comprehensive reporting; culture diversity training; de-escalation training; investing in crime prevention programs, and more. These initiatives and programs need dollars. And we need to do more as a city to continue to improve our policing.”
Bivens encouraged citizens to watch two upcoming public meetings on the city’s budget. The meetings are on July 29 at 6:00 p.m. and July 31 at 10:00 a.m.
“The meetings will be held in the council chamber, and the public can watch the meetings live on Fort Worth TV either online, TV, or Facebook,” she added.
Voters concerned about public safety may contact the Fort Worth City Council.
