Black Lives Matter Vancouver wants police float out of Pride parade

By

VANCOUVER – Black Lives Matter Vancouver is asking the Vancouver Police Department to voluntarily withdraw its float from the upcoming Pride Parade as a “show of solidarity and understanding.”

The open letter issued by the activist group on Friday comes weeks after its Toronto counterparts halted the city’s parade until organizers signed off on a list of demands including banning police floats from future marches.

The Vancouver chapter says it stands with Black Lives Matter Toronto in its discontent with police marching in the parade.

But it says it will not take part in the Pride Parade, by participation or protest, as an act of solidarity with other Black Lives Matter chapters and because it feels the event “no longer represents community action, resistance and revolution.”

It says having Vancouver police on the ground to perform a civil service is understandable, but having officers participate on a float is “inappropriate and insulting” to those who made Pride celebrations possible.

Instead, the group proposes a public service float, including police officers, firefighters, paramedics and others, to replace the police-only float.

The VPD has responded in a statement, saying they’ll work with Pride organizers, and all interest groups, to ensure that their concerns are addressed.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today