Crowd Gathers Outside Meyerson In Search Of Comfort, To Show Support

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DALLAS (CBS11) - Outside the cool and well-protected brick walls of the Meyerson, another crowd gathered in downtown Dallas: but, they weren't dignitaries, lawmakers or law enforcement.

"I just wanted to come down here and pay my respects to the policeman that got shot," said Stephen Fuqua. They were just regular folk like Fuqua, and Angel Jasso of Dallas.

"They do things differently here," says Jasso of Dallas Police. "I don't feel like the police here are against the people that protest, the people that stand up for something: I feel like they're a part of it."

Even absent the invitation required to attend the memorial, many nevertheless gathered outside the Meyerson to show respect and appreciation—and perhaps perspective as well.

"I feel like everybody was angry," says Jasso, "and then when the officers got shot, they realized that there was no point in being angry."

The crowd that gathered was a postcard of diversity: from the white, suburban conservative who told us "it's just unfortunate that this had to happen anyplace; much less in Dallas," says Vicki Cartwright. "But, over the past couple of days I've felt the community has grown much stronger."

And then there were the brown and black faces who call Oak Cliff home.

"My heart goes out to the families of the police officers and I think we all need to learn how to get along," said Fonda Livingston, and then adding, "we need to support the officers and their families, and they need to do something about all of these shootings."

They each had a story. A worry. A concern. But, on a blazing hot day in Dallas, the search for comfort brought them together—in defiance of the hatred that had the potential to divide.

"Our Mayor's fabulous, the police chief is wonderful," says Cartwright. "I feel very hopeful for Dallas Texas."

And while it was sorrow that had drawn them together—many admitted that hope was beginning to surface as well.

"We have a lot of work to do," added Livingston, "but, it's not impossible, it can be done."

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