NYC Pride to go without police participation at all events until 2025

(Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)

By Anthony Payero

(NEW YORK) New York City Pride said on Saturday that they are motioning to scale back law enforcement presence at future events, according to ABC 7 NY.

Beginning in June, police and corrections will not be permitted to participate in the Pride March until 2025.

"This announcement follows many months of conversation and discussion with key stakeholders in the community," NYC Pride Co-Chair André Thomas said.

According to organizers, they will employ a private security firm and will request the New York City Police Department to maintain a block's distance from all events, including the March — the most populous event.

NYC Pride said the following in a statement:

NYPD is not required to lead first response and security at NYC Pride events. All aspects of first response and security that can be reallocated to trained private security, community leaders, and volunteers will be reviewed. 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 organizers said the NYPD will supply first response and security only when absolutely required as approved by city officials.

"In these instances, NYC Pride will review foreseeable NYPD involvement and, in partnership with surrounding venue precincts, take steps to keep police officers at least one city block away from event perimeter areas where possible," the statement read.

On Friday, the NYPD Gay Officers Action League released a statement in response to NYC Pride, saying they were "disheartened" by the decision "in order to placate some of the activists in our community is shameful."

NYC Pride organizers are reportedly looking "to create safer spaces for the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities at a time when violence against marginalized groups, specifically BIPOC and trans communities, has continued to escalate."

"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 organizers said.

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