ST. LOUIS -- About 170 people, many holding signs and chanting slogans, jammed the sidewalk across Olive Street from police headquarters Thursday afternoon before a skirmish line of officers crossed the wide boulevard and surged into the crowd.
Everybody shook hands and hugged.
The occasion was a "pro-police" rally outside the new headquarters at 1915 Olive. Trish Dennison, of Alhambra, a mother of police officers, said she spread word of the rally by social media because she wanted to tell another side of the story from the streets.
"People have been out here promoting their causes, and so much of it has been negative," she said of repeated anti-police protests in the St. Louis area since August.
"Most of us staying at home support the police. But unless we get out here, how will they know it?"
The friendly rally took place one day after more seasoned protesters attempted to rush the headquarters for a sit-in.
Officers met them at the door in what became a shoving match. Police used pepper spray and made 24 arrests.
Dennison said the timing and place of Thursday's rally were coincidental, as she had been promoting the pro-police rally for more than a week.
Officers appreciated her effort.
Maj. Jerry Leyshock walked through the crowd shaking hands and thanking everyone.
"The young guys inside really appreciate seeing all of you here. This is awesome," he told them.
Referring to the protesters from the day before, he said, "A lot of them also are good people. Sometimes, it's all about the presentation."
Check the Post-Dispatch's coverage of the Pro Police Rally. They missed this sign. http://t.co/6LYXzVD4OT pic.twitter.com/PIhFimwjyr
— deray mckesson (@deray) January 2, 2015
Check the Post-Dispatch's headline describing the Pro Police Rally. I shouldn't be, but I'm actually shocked. pic.twitter.com/hmMSDxbLSw
— deray mckesson (@deray) January 2, 2015
I hear that protestors may be visiting the Post-Dispatch headquarters soon.
— deray mckesson (@deray) January 2, 2015
Many of the people who gathered Thursday emphasized the contrast.
"This is an example of peaceful assembly," said Bev Bremer of St. Louis.
There was a running joke about how there would be no rushing of doorways.
Among the signs that were waved above the crowd: "God bless our police," "Police lives matter," "We back the badge" and "I support the police, not thugs."
Jan Endicott LaVar of Affton showed up with several relatives to honor her late father, Leonard Endicott Sr., a former University City police officer.
LaVar called the previous day's disturbance at the headquarters door "disgraceful," and said, "We need to give the police the respect they sorely deserve."
Bill Siedhoff, who recently retired as St. Louis human services director, said he attended "because the police always gave us so much support in working with the homeless and other issues. I figure it's payback time."
Officers frequently posed for group photographs as they ambled along Olive's traffic lanes. The crowd cheered as passing police vehicles squawked their air horns and sirens.
As street events go during the long weeks of protests, not much happened Thursday.
The most dramatic moment was when Dennison led in the release of blue helium balloons, which were carried toward downtown by the brisk breeze.
A short time later it was over. Police made no arrests.
Tim O'Neil is a reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Contact him at 314-340-8132 or toneil@post-dispatch.com
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