WASHINGTON — The White House refused a call by a Republican congressman to light the White House blue Monday for National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.).
“Obama has not agreed to do so, but has displayed lights at the White House for other groups in the past, including the LGBT community,” a spokeswoman from Republican Washington Rep. Dave Reichert’s office told The Daily Caller Sunday night.
President Obama previously refused to light up the White House with blue lights in support of the fallen officers following an ambush on law enforcement in Dallas last July.
“The president has chosen to acknowledge this loss and pay tribute to these heroes in a variety of other ways, including: ordering flags lowered to half staff, traveling to Dallas to speak at the memorial service and spending a substantial amount of time after the service visiting with the families of those who were lost,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at the time.
Reichert, a former law enforcement officer, also organized an effort to provide all 435 House offices with blue lights to display on their windowsills and called on all governors across the country to light up their state buildings in blue lights.
“The men and women who wear the badge understand the dangers of their job, but they heed the call to serve and willingly face those risks every day in order to create safe communities for all Americans,” said Congressman Reichert in a statement about his effort.
“I hope you will join me in showing the law enforcement community that their elected representatives recognize the difficulties and dangers that officers encounter every day in public service to us all. Law Enforcement Appreciation Day is the perfect time to honor the sacrifices made by those who wear the uniform; whether it’s missing family members while working during the holidays, rushing to the aid of a crime victim, or comforting those in duress.”
