Philadelphia

Hundreds Rally in Mayfair to Support Police

Nearly 300 people braved the cold to chant peaceful messages in support of Philadelphia law enforcement Friday night in the city's Mayfair section.

Community members, officers and family of police officers gathered at Frankford and Cottman aves for one purpose -- to peacefully show support for their brothers and sisters in blue.

"... All these cops are helping us and protecting us from all the bad things that are happening," said one of the youngest supporters, Lea Newman.

Organizers, who insist that Philadelphia Police Department was in no way associated with the rally, pulled the event together late this week and took to Facebook to get the word out.

On the page, they emphazed the importance of keeping the rally peaceful -- with its sole purpose to show Philadelphia Police that Philadelphians are behind them.

"Any negative signs of people causing any kind of disturbance will be asked to leave," said organizers.

The rally follows much unrest in Philadelphia as well as the rest of the country following protests against police after decisions in favor of law enforcement in the Eric Garner chokehold death and the death of Michael Brown.

It also follows a police-involved shooting Monday in Mayfair. Brandon Tate-Brown was shot and killed along the 6600 block of Frankford Ave., after he allegedly reached for a loaded handgun -- stolen last year -- during a traffic stop.

Family maintains that Tate-Brown, who had served five years in prison for aggravated assault, was trying to get his life back on track by being a "good guy."

The rally had nothing to do with Tate-Brown's shooting, said head organizer Donald Garvey.

"We decided to do this because we feel like officers are being unfairly judged in light of what's happening nationally," said Garvey.

"Policemen are not saints, they're men and women that go to work everyday and try to do their jon and do the best they can," said supporter Brian Trait.

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