The Associated Press | People listen to speakers during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | People participate in a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | People sing the National Anthem during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | A man waves the American flag during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | A participant holds up a sign during a pro-police rally, Saturday Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | Philadelphia police officers salute while the National Anthem is sung during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | People listen to speakers during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | People participate in a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | People sing the National Anthem during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | A man waves the American flag during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | A participant holds up a sign during a pro-police rally, Saturday Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The Associated Press | Philadelphia police officers salute while the National Anthem is sung during a pro-police rally, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. Organizers called the gathering the Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally and said that the event was in remembrance of fallen New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

200 brave Philadelphia cold in rally for police    January 10, 2015

  

 05:42 PM   By NATALIE POMPILIO, Associated Press      

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — About 200 people braved temperatures below freezing to attend a rally near Philadelphia's Independence Hall in support of local law enforcement officers.
Pennsylvania Republicans Sen. Pat Toomey and Rep. Pat Meehan spoke at Saturday's Delaware Valley Pro-Blue Rally, which was sponsored by the conservative Independence Hall Foundation but billed as a nonpartisan event.
"For one day, one hour, we suspend our political differences for an exceptional cause to honor, thank and proudly stand with our Delaware Valley Police officers," foundation president Teri Adams said.
The killings of two unarmed black men by white police officers in Missouri and in New York last summer touched off protests and a national debate over police conduct that intensified after grand juries declined to indict the officers. Tensions escalated further after two New York police officers were killed while sitting in their patrol car Dec. 20 by a man who suggested in online posts their slayings were in retaliation for the earlier deaths.      STORY