Hundreds attend pro-police anti-violence rally in Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP) — Hundreds of people have rallied in downtown Cleveland in support of police and against violence in what’s dubbed a “Sea of Blue” rally.

People attending today’s event say the community must work with police to curb violence in the city after a particularly deadly year.

In one recent four-week period a 5-year-old boy, a 3-year-old boy and a 5-month-old girl were shot to death in unrelated incidents.

Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolman’s Association, says the rally is a reminder that police and the public must work together to keep streets safe.

Deadly use-of-force incidents, including last year’s fatal police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, have led to heightened police scrutiny around Cleveland.

A similar pro-police rally last December drew 2,500 people downtown.