Pride parade in Princeton is back

PRINCETON » After a two year COVID hiatus, the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice is bringing back Princeton’s live and in-person Pride parade and party on Saturday, June 18.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Princeton Municipal Building at 400 Witherspoon Street, and the after-party will take place on the field of the Princeton YMCA on Paul Robeson Place.

The grand marshal for the event will be Alan Muraoka, who plays the owner of Hooper’s Store on “Sesame Street.” He recently won a GLAAD Media Award for his work on the long-running children’s show.

“I am beyond thrilled & honored to act as Grand Marshal of the BRCSJ Princeton Pride Parade,” Muraoka said in a press release announcing the event.“On Sesame Street we try to teach tolerance, acceptance, & love, & I am inspired by the mission & vision of all the good folks at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, who are teaching the same values. Can’t wait to march with them & tell all our friends & fam how to get, how to get, how to get to Princeton Pride!”

In 2019, the BRCSJ organized Princeton’s 1st-ever Pride Parade with over 3,000 people in the streets. For the following two years, the group put on the “parade” virtually, and are very excited to be back in the streets for 2022.

“We invite all to join us as our LGBTQIA community & their friends, allies, & families (chosen or otherwise) march, dance, roll, stroll, & sashay through the historic Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood to end up at the fabulous after-party at the Princeton Y”, said BRCSJ Chief Activist Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber in the release. “What better way to walk the walk (both literally & figuratively) of inclusivity & intersectionality than to bring together all of our beautifully diverse folx in Princeton & in the greater community!”

Please visit www.rustincenter.org for more information on how to march and participate as well as how to donate, volunteer, or otherwise be of service.