It’s clear that the Black Lives Matter movement cannot be exactly friendly with the police right now and this has caused some demands against the Vancouver Pride Parade…. How are they related?

Well, the movement stopped and made demands about the police’s involvement in the Toronto Pride and as a result were asked by the Vancouver Dyke March, announced on July 8, to be the grand marshal for the march.

However the Vancouver Pride Society then released a statement about their commitment to creating safe and inclusive spaces for all and stated about police involvement saying.

“We…know that our events like the Pride Parade…would not be possible without the support of our partners, including law enforcement. Vancouver Pride has not had requests from any organization to see police excluded from our events and we will continue working with police to educate and include them in ways that are appropriate. We understand that this may create barriers for some members of our community who feel they cannot access our events.”

In response Vancouver BLM have written an open letter to the Pride Society and the Police. It basically asks for the Police to not be involved in the parade (although acknowledges security presence is needed).

Therefore, we understand and support BLM-Toronto’s reluctance towards having the police force, as it exists as an institution, involved as a prominent fixture in the parade. Having the Vancouver Police Department on the ground to perform a civil service is understandable. Having the institution participate on a float in the organized festivities of the actual parade is inappropriate and insulting to those who came before us to make Pride celebrations possible, some of who even died for the cause. Embracing the institution in an event that originates from protest against its actions makes us justifiably uncomfortable.

Read the full letter here: https://blacklivesmattervancouver.com/2016/07/15/open-letter-to-the-vancouver-pride-society-and-the-vancouver-police-department-from-black-lives-matter-vancouver/