The "Blue Lives Matter" movement unofficially began in December 2014 after two New York Police Department officers were shot and killed "by a fanatic who believed the lies of Black Lives Matter, the media, and politicians," states Bluelivesmatter.blue, a media company founded by active and retired officers. The movement has since been embraced by President Donald Trump and has been used to describe a series of bills in Mississippi and Kentucky that would label crimes against police officers as hate crimes.
Kentucky's "Blue Lives Matter" legislation is House Bill 14. The bill passed in Kentucky's House on Feb. 13 after Donna Mayfield, R-Winchester, was called a racist by Black Lives Matter protesters angry over her support of the legislation. Louisiana became the first state to pass a "Blue Lives Matter" bill in May 2016.