Page 42 - June2021

Riding High
Back-the-blue ride rallies a celebration of law enforcement
Coming out of the pandemic, law en- forcement will probably enjoy more days like this one on May 22.
Mustering at Chi-Town Harley-Da- vidson in Tinley Park, the Back The Blue Parade motorcycle ride attracted near- ly 3,000 bikes to make a 120-mile run to Princeton for a massive celebration of the profession. Chicago Lodge 7 Third Vice President Fernando Flores joined the ride, and President John Catanzara drove one of the support trucks.
Stretched out over miles and miles of Interstate 80, people stood on overpasses and other vantage points to show home- made signs of support and cheer on their heroes. Flores called this the silent major- ity that is tired of seeing coppers getting fussed with by elected officials in Spring- field and think defunding the police is a bunch of spit.
“They’re tired of the nonsense,” ob- served Flores, who noted how backing the blue has returned in force and that the public should be fortified by the safety provided in these numbers.
“Everybody there was pro-police and it was cool as hell,” he added. “I’m telling you, dude, it made the hair on my arms stand up.”
The ride also honored a Princeton po- lice officer known as “Froggy,” who is bat- tling pancreatic cancer. Froggy truly rep- resents the unconditional service of the profession. On the morning of the ride, he volunteered his time to set up the sound system for the Princeton Township High School graduation.
Catanzara also mentioned that the ride would serve to muster support for the trailer bills to HB3653, the anti-SAFE
42 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ JUNE 2021
More than 3,000 riders participated in the Back The Blue Parade on May 22 that ran from Tinley Park to Princeton.
T Act legislation that was coming up for vote before the Illinois General Assem- bly in a little more than a week. When the program at the destination - Psycho Silo Saloon – failed to hit on that because sup- port was understood and unconditional, Catanzara was offered the microphone to add some words of emphasis.
He implored riders, their family mem- bers and friends to reach out legislators to express their backing of the blue. The Lodge 7 president also spurred the mass- es to perpetuate their support from now through the 2022 election, which the FOP has already targeted to vote out legislators who are demonstratively anti-law en- forcement.
“If we can just keep the momentum going, we can really make a statement in ’22,” Catanzara continued. “That’s the goal. That’s the focus. That’s why we need these back-the-blue rallies.”
Another massive back-the-blue ride is planned for June 24, leaving from at least five Harley-Davidson dealerships
After arriving at the Psycho Silo Saloon in Lang- ley, Lodge 7 President John Catanzara and Third Vice President Fernando Flores join in the toast to honor law enforcement.
On a day to celebrate law enforcement, riders enjoyed the support of people who stood on overpasses and other locations to cheer them.
throughout Chicagoland. Although the destination for that ride is in Rosemont, Catanzara suggested that a short detour might take place down Wrightwood Ave- nue toward Kimball Avenue, where a cer- tain Chicago mayor lives.
How about lining that whole neighbor- hood with blue line flags? That would cer- tainly send a message about backing for the blue.