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A true backing of the blue
Dozens of Harley-Davidson riders showed up to support law enforcement at the Back the Blue Chicagoland’s “4-3-2, We Ride for Blue” event on July 31.
n BY ROSEMARY AN
n PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SHEEHAN
It was a Harley-Davidson takeover at Villa Park on July 31.
Dozens of people in two, three and four-wheeled vehicles pulled up to make a statement about Chicago Police De- partment officers — that they are loved, cherished and cared for — at the Back the Blue Chicagoland’s “4-3-2, We Ride for Blue” event.
And the mastermind behind this event was none other than Teri King, a Chica- goan who has no connection to law en- forcement. She merely is a true advocate of the men and women in blue who serve and protect the community. King also runs three Facebook pages that support law enforcement officers.
“There are no first responders in my family at all,” she said. “I just give back. It didn’t matter what you were riding — it’s just about supporting the police.”
At 10:30 a.m., the Lake Shore and Fox River Harley-Davidson groups began their ride, while the Illinois and Schiller Woods Harley-Davidson groups started at 11 a.m. Notable participants included Gary Rabine, a candidate for the gover- nor of Illinois, and Peggy Hubbard, who is running for a seat on the U.S. Senate and is described as a Harley-Davidson enthusiast.
By 11:30 a.m., the riders landed at Wild Fire Harley-Davidson, but the event was not over. Riders and supporters stuck around to check out food trucks, enter a raffle, compete in a cornhole tourna-
Rallying cries from riders and supporters were heard after notable speakers took a moment to honor officers.
ment and participate in a bike-decorat-
ing contest. King even made Back the
Blue merchandise to sell at the event.
“I wanted something big,” King said, “where people were coming from differ- ent areas. People want to help; they just
don’t know how to.”
King emphasizes the importance of
hosting events that will garner support not only from law enforcement and their families, but also outside those neigh- borhoods, from people just like her.
“You always get support in a police neighborhood,” King said. “You’ve got to get it outside their communities. 10 per- cent of the world sucks, and all we hear is about that 10 percent. We need to hear more about the 90 percent that support but are quiet.”
King experienced the profound effect of the quiet 90 percent. After the event, she took the extra merchandise to sell at Culver’s, a restaurant that hosts events when officers are injured. She raised nearly $2,000 to donate to injured Officer Carlos Yanez Jr., who is now in a rehabil- itation facility. She believes it was meant
Back the Blue merchandise was designed and sold at the event by Teri King, a Chicago resident who came up with the idea for the ride.
to be.
“[The ride] was supposed to be on June
26,” King said. “But we had tornadoes so [we rescheduled] to July 31. I guess all that product was supposed to raise mon- ey for him. That’s why the [ June 26] event didn’t go off.”
The money could have been used to buy desks or other resources for officers. But donations going to an injured officer is a testament to what the Back the Blue event was all about: support.
“I always look for a silver lining,” King said. “And this way, the money is going to that gentleman.”
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