All PR; tone deaf; or ongoing learning process?
The scheduled “march” in solidarity for #BlackLivesMatter organized in lieu of the L.A. Pride parade/festival/party is now getting slammed as a “collaboration” with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), considered tone deaf considering that the uprising happening in the US right now is a protest against police brutality.
As earlier reported, an uprising has been happening in the US now, in protest of America’s long history of systemic racial injustice. This was again highlighted by the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who – after being suspected of passing a fake $20 bill – died in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes. Three other officers were involved; and none of them revived Floyd even when he was already motionless and had no pulse. Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
L.A. Pride – started right after the Stonewall uprising in New York City in 1969 – is, nowadays, more known for its festivals/parties than for being very political.
Christopher Street West (CSW), organizer of the annual LA Pride Parade and Festival, initially canceled all in-person events due to Covid-19. But on June 1, its board of directors voted to “peacefully assemble a protest in solidarity with the Black community.”
And now a letter from CSW to LAPD has been released online, with the former saying they look forward to organizing a #BlackLivesMatter gathering “collaboratively” with the LAPD.
I've been informed @LAPride is, in fact, working with police for their so-called "Black solidarity" march. Attached is a screenshot of an event producer's letter to the LAPD underscoring "a strong and unified partnership with law enforcement." Homos, this is not it. pic.twitter.com/7YkndfDUrV— Fran Tirado (@fransquishco) June 5, 2020
When called out, CSW said it will release “more information”; but none has been released so far.
pic.twitter.com/Al20JZc9DZ— LA Pride (@lapride) June 5, 2020
