NYC Pride will reduce police presence and bar officers from marching in the parade
Decision stems from discomfort that some community members have with police participation in Pride-related events.
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A police officer marches in NYC Pride’s parade in 2019 – Photo: Brian Kyed, via Unsplash.
Organizers of NYC Pride events have announced plans to ban police and other law enforcement officers from marching in the city’s annual Pride parade until at least 2025, and will reduce police presence by keeping on-duty officers at least a block away from any Pride-related events.
In a press release, NYC Pride said it was seeking to create safer spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community and communities of color at a time when police violence against marginalized groups, including Black, Latino, and trans communities, is front of mind.
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By Jessica Chasmar - The Washington Times - Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Organizers of New York City’s Pride events have announced that police and corrections officers will be banned from participating in any pride marches for at least the next five years, saying their presence makes other participants feel unsafe.
NYC Pride said Saturday in a press release that security for its Pride March in June, and all other Pride-related events, will come from private security, community leaders and volunteers instead of the New York City Police Department.
NYC Pride organizers have banned police from Pride events till 2025
The organization revealed the policy in a newly released statement via their website and Twitter.
“Effective immediately, NYC Pride will ban corrections and law enforcement exhibitors at NYC Pride events until 2025,” the statement read.
“At that time their participation will be reviewed by the Community Relations and Diversity, Accessibility and Inclusion committees, as well as the Executive Board.
“In the meantime, NYC Pride will transition to providing increased community-based security and first responders, while simultaneously taking steps to reduce NYPD presence at events.”
In the meantime, NYC Pride will transition to providing increased community-based security and first responders, while simultaneously taking steps to reduce NYPD presence at events.
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York City Pride announced that police and corrections officers would no longer be welcome to participate at Pride events. The LGBT group claimed that it applied the ban in order to “create safer spaces” for “marginalized groups.”
The organization also said it would take steps to minimize police protection presence at its events by hiring private security and other “first responders” who aren’t police.
I’m sure nurses and lab techs would be able to head off any trouble at the next gay pride parade.
“The sense of safety that law enforcement is meant to provide can instead be threatening, and at times dangerous, to those in our community who are most often targeted with excessive force and/or without reason,” organizers said in a press release.