Police groups disappointed but hopeful after getting booted from Pride parade
Police organizations say they are disappointed to be shut out from marching in the Edmonton Pride parade and hope to work with the festival committee so that officers can eventually rejoin the event.
“Obviously there’s more work that needs to be done,” Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry with the RCMP’s K Division said Sunday. “What’s important now is we use our energy on having a dialogue with the Pride society and community at large.”
“I know we’ve worked hard to break stereotypes, break barriers,” said Sgt. Michael Elliott, president of the Edmonton Police Association.
“We’ve made great steps forward to build relationships.”
On Saturday, the Edmonton Pride Festival Society barred police officers and military personnel from marching in future parades, hours after protesters blocked the route and demanded the ban.
“EPS, RCMP and military will not march in the parade until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence,” festival society board members said in a news release. The annual event was set to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday, and included a number of police officers marching out of uniform for the first time.
The parade was halted almost immediately when dozens of protesters — brandishing signs with messages such as “No justice, No pride” and “Racism is a queer issue” — cut off the road.
Protest spokeswoman Alexis Hillyard, who said the action was planned on social media and not affiliated with a particular group, outlined four demands including banning police and military.
Protesters also called for the society to restructure its hiring process to include more people of colour and transgender people, as well as improving representation in the festival itself.
The festival society agreed to the demands.
Police organizations said they respect the decision made by the festival society.
“We’re very passionate about being reflective of the community we police,” said Landry, who marched in Saturday’s parade. “And we are recruiting ... we want all individuals to feel included and that there’s a place for them.”
Elliott, who was volunteering at the festival grounds when the standoff took place, lauded the decision to march in the parade out of uniform.
“I thought that was a bold step,” he said.
As for next year, he said he will participate in Pride regardless if he’s allowed to march.
“I’m a little disappointed but this will not stop me from tearing down barriers,” he said.
“I’m open to inclusivity, co-operation, and community ... that’s what makes us who we are, the diversity we have in our country.”