GOOD HOPE, Ala. – A Back the Blue rally was held Saturday afternoon in Good Hope with a steady crowd of law enforcement officers stopping by and chatting with members of the community showing their appreciation. The rally was held at the Billy Bob’s Fireworks Superstore, and by 2:30, a sizable crowd had gathered for food and fellowship in what turned out to be a laid-back event.
The Back the Blue Rally was hosted by Bob Hoglan, owner of the fireworks superstore.
He explained the motivation behind the rally, saying, “At the end of the day, our police officers are being wrongly attacked. There’s bad in everything, but we have so many more good police officers than bad. They are getting persecuted and attacked and they are supposed to be our protectors and now we need to protect them. This is just my way to hopefully help lift their spirits. We damn sure need to make sure they don’t walk off the job.”
Different restaurants either donated food or offered food at special event pricing, so everyone received a free lunch.
Said Hoglan, “I called in some favors from some great friends.”
One of those friends was Campbell’s Towing out of Blount County, which came to make sure the American flag flew high above the rally.
“There’s many men who have died for that flag and many more would die for that flag again,” said Hoglan. “I honestly don’t see white and black. I don’t care what color a person is. If you are red, white and blue, you’re my kind of people. If you are against the red, white and blue, you are my enemy.”
Members of the Cullman Police Department, Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and a few from surrounding area agencies stopped by to thank the supporters who came out.
Officer Joshua Spinks, who joined the CPD in April after serving in Jefferson County, said of the attitude toward officers, “It’s night and day different. The support of the community here in Cullman is amazing.”
He said that wasn’t always the case in Jefferson County, where he regularly heard disparaging comments as he and his fellow officers were in the community.
Spinks smiled, “It’s amazing here, and I tell them, ‘Next time Cullman’s hiring, you need to get out of there!’”
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