Pride Week is officially underway in Vancouver and despite requests from an advocacy group that Vancouver Police withdraw their float and not march in the parade, officers are holding their ground.
Black Lives Matter had asked the Vancouver Police to voluntarily withdraw its float as a show of solidarity and understanding after the recent officer-involved shootings in the United States.
The Vancouver chapter had proposed that a public service float including police, firefighters and paramedics replace a police-only entry.
VPD spokesperson Randy Fincham said the department will be continuing its 19-year tradition of walking in the Vancouver’s Pride Parade as part of the City of Vancouver entry. After hearing the concerns of Black Lives Matter Fincham said this year the VPD will not include their armored citizen rescue vehicle in the parade but will have other vehicles there instead to support the VPD.
“The Vancouver Police Department shares the Pride Society’s values of inclusiveness, compassion and respect” Chief Cst. Adam Palmer said in a statement.
“This year, our sworn and civilian staff and community volunteers will again be walking in the Pride Parade, to show support for our LGBTQ2+ community, our VPD staff, family and friends.”
Members of Black Lives Matter had stopped Toronto’s Pride Parade earlier this month and issued a series of demands before allowing it to resume.
Fincham said, “the parade is an opportunity to show what they’ve been doing in the community, to build our community and have our officers involved and create that inclusive city that we want to live in.”
The Vancouver Pride Parade takes place this Sunday, July 31.
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