Residents passing through town center on their way to the polls Tuesday morning saw an unfamiliar vehicle parked on Mass. Ave. beside the General Store. The largest words on the mobile billboard truck read “Defend Your Police.” The E in “Defend” was printed in red, obscuring a “U” that would have made the word “Defund.”
On Nov. 2 a rolling billboard parked on Mass. Ave. near the town center. The reason for its appearance in town was unclear. (Photo by Tim Clark)
It’s not clear where the truck came from, but it’s appeared in plenty of places—Littleton, Ayer, and Westford nearby, as well as several dozen other towns in eastern and central Massachusetts. Early last month, online photos showed a truck with the same sign parked in Boston near Copley Square, where its windshield sported a large orange parking ticket. News reports from Melrose say the truck earned a couple of parking tickets there, too, for blocking spaces in front of local businesses. And billboards with the same message have popped up along some heavily traveled roadways.
The Harvard police have received a number of inquiries about the truck, administrative assistant Pat Natoli told a Press reporter, but the department knows nothing about it or the organization behind it. Reports from other towns indicate it stays in each location about 48 hours, she said.
The message on the side of the truck urges viewers to “Come out of the shadows and be heard” by telling stories in support of police on the website defendyour police.com. The website was created last June and is privately registered through a firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, so there is no way to determine its owner.
Many of the experiences recorded on the website come from towns in Massachusetts, but some are from as far away as Florida and Nebraska. All express their respect and support for the police. Many recount the help they received from officers during emergencies, while others speak of everyday acts of kindness. “I was a pedestrian that was hit by a car last year,” wrote a woman from Shrewsbury. “The response of the Shrewsbury police was fantastic. … One of the police officers even stopped by the hospital to check on me!”
Beyond the personal accounts in support of the police, the group’s website and Facebook page are more political, with one Facebook entry stating, “Donald Trump is the only candidate who deserves your vote this November.”
When reached by the Press, Harvard General Store owner Scott Hayward was surprised to learn of the truck parked next to his building. The General is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and the truck was not visible from Hayward’s home.
By the time the polls closed Tuesday night, the truck had moved on to carry its message to another town.
John Osborn contributed to this story.
