NYC Pride announces it will ban NYPD from events until 2025

NYC Pride says they will hire a private security firm and will be asking the NYPD to keep a distance from all events, including the Pride March on June 27.

News 12 Staff

May 15, 2021, 5:15 PM

Updated 1,307 days ago

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NYC Pride has announced new policies to reduce the amount of law enforcement presence at events.
The organization says they will ban police and corrections officers from working at any pride events until 2025.
According to a release from the group:
“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 is unwilling to contribute in any way to creating an atmosphere of fear or harm for members of the community. The steps being taken by the organization challenge law enforcement to acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward, in hopes of making an impactful change.”
NYC Pride says they will hire a private security firm and will be asking the NYPD to keep a distance from all events, including the Pride March on June 27.
“This announcement follows many months of conversation and discussion with key stakeholders in the community,” said NYC Pride Co-Chair André Thomas, in prepared remarks.
The NYPD told News 12 that they will still be there to ensure traffic and safety order during the event. It said in a statement:
“Our annual work to ensure a safe, enjoyable pride season has been increasingly embraced by its participants. The idea of officers being excluded is disheartening and runs counter to our shared values of inclusion and tolerance."
The Gay Officers Action League, or GOAL, said in a statement that it was "disheartened" by NYC Pride's decision.