Some 200 people gathered outside Allentown City Hall last night to stand with and support city police and equally stand with and support the city’s many communities of color.

The country has been shaken by the recent shooting deaths by police of two black men in Baton Rouge, LA. and near Minneapolis, MN. and an attack that killed five police officers in Dallas.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski was joined by Police Chief Keith Morris and representatives of the city’s various racial, ethnic and faith communities in being a visible force in our community for non-violence. Pawlowski called on people “to reject the polarization that has engulfed our nation that one must either be pro-police or pro-people of color. We believe you can be both. We are here to say that in Allentown we believe that: Police Lives, Black Lives, Latino Lives, White Lives, and All Lives Matter.”

Morris said, “Rather than letting these tragedies divide us, this is a time for us to come together as a community and share our grief and look for solutions. Our community has showed us overwhelming support in the wake of these tragedies which is crucial during times of crisis. I am thankful for the support of those individuals standing here with me today. Now more than ever we need to come together as one.”

Morris told the crowd that the Allentown Police Department supports all members of our community. “That support is not dictated by the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, or religious preference. I’ll say it again. We support all members of our community.”

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