Vancouver Pride Society bans police officers from parade, festivals to protest brutality
Police will not be welcome at Pride festivities this year, the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) announced Wednesday.
Two years ago, the VPS barred Vancouver police officers from marching in uniform, a policy that remained in place last summer as well.
Officers were permitted to march in street clothes, and even this half-measure was met with controversy.
But Wednesday’s announcement took things a step further, as law enforcement was uninvited outright, and the Society joined community calls to defund the police.
“Law enforcement, including correctional officers, are not welcome to march in the Vancouver Pride Parade or exhibit at our festivals,” the VPS said in a statement posted to its website Wednesday. “Vancouver Pride will inform police why they are not welcome to participate in our events and continue to educate the public about why we have reached this decision.”
According to the Society, this action is being taken in solidarity with those around the globe who are denouncing police brutality amid the killing of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and countless others.
“Their lives mattered, and yet they were stolen by the police,” the Society said.
“We stand with Black communities who have taken to the streets to demand accountability from the police.”
The VPS also announced a $5,000 bursary fund to support groups and organizations doing anti-racism work. Pride will be digital this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the VPS already unveiled a weeklong event lineup for Virtual Pride 2020. The Vancouver police didn’t return a call for comment.