MOBILE, Ala. — It’s just a simple sign with a short message, but Maureen Maclay of Mobile has used it to start a movement.
In the wake of numerous violent tragedies, including the Dallas and Baton Rouge police shootings and terrorist attacks around the world, Maclay felt compelled to do something.
“With all of the violence in the world, I just turned the TV off and thought there might be one thing I could do,” she told WKRG in an interview. “I thought there was a real need for expression of how much people in this country are desiring to have peace.”
With that in mind, Maclay scrawled out the words “Pray for Peace” on a piece of poster board and took to the streets.
Before long, the intersection of Airport Boulevard and Hillcrest Road was alive with approving horn honks and enthusiastic waves from passersby. And several other people have even decided to join her effort, standing for hours in the blazing sun to spread their message of faith and unity.
“We felt compelled to come and meet her,” Valerie Flout-Bridges told WKRG. She, Maclay, and a young girl named Simone Flout now man the corner. Simone is perhaps the most enthusiastic of them all. Along with her sign, the young girl is known to shout, “Honk ’em everybody!” at cars driving past.
The prayer warriors have also gotten attention from Mobile’s mayor, Sandy Stimpson. “Thank you Maureen. I pray for peace everyday” he wrote on his Facebook page.
The small group’s desire for peace has been echoed around the state in recent weeks.
Their hometown of Mobile recently lit up their entire bayside skyline in blue in a show of support for law enforcement.
“Our skyline will shine blue this week,” reads a post on the City of Mobile’s Facebook page, “in honor of the men and women in blue who wake up everyday not knowing if they’ll return home.”
The Alabama State Capitol also showed its support for law enforcement by lighting up blue as well, and many citizens around the state are joining in in different ways.
The small town of Rainbow city recently hosted a law enforcement support night and several other cities around the state have done the same.
Another Alabamian personally sought out and publicly thanked the officers who saved his life after he was nearly killed in a shooting in Birmingham.
“I just want to come here and thank the officers for doing their job to the best of their ability and trying to show them people care about them doing their job because I know it could be a hard task out here,” the man said.
Other Alabamians took to social media to encourage their friends and co-workers to wear blue clothes or ribbons in support of police officers, and others pledged to place blue lightbulbs on their front porch.
“My plan is to replace my porch light with a blue light bulb to honor our heroes in blue,” said one social media commenter. “I want them to know me and my household are behind them and appreciate them.”
