Police and Law Enforcement Banned From NYC Pride Events Until 2025.
On May 15, NYC Pride announced that all “corrections and law enforcement exhibitors” were banned from their events.
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The organization said that rather than creating a “sense of safety,” law enforcement has been “threatening” and “at times dangerous.”.
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.
NYC Pride is unwilling to contribute in any way to creating an atmosphere of fear or harm for members of the community, NYC Pride, via statement.
NYC Pride went on to “challenge” police to “acknowledge” the harm they’ve caused and “correct course.” .
The ban on law enforcement will span until 2025, at which time their participation will be “reviewed.”.
In lieu of police, NYC Pride will increase their security budget and utilize community-based security and first responders.
An increased budget for security and first response will allow NYC Pride to independently build a first response emergency plan using private security and provide safety volunteers with de-escalation training for first response when necessary.
, NYC Pride, via statement.
In instances where police presence is “mandated by city officials,” NYC Pride plans to take steps to keep all officers stationed at least one city block away