Protesters at Edmonton's Pride parade expected mixed reaction when they stopped the parade in its tracks and issued a list of demands, including uninviting all Edmonton police, RCMP and military personnel from the parade. But Shay Lewis, who was part of the protest, said stopping the parade was necessary for the conversation to move forward. "The protest happened because they were unwilling to talk with us without us having any type of leverage," Lewis, who is gender-fluid and uses pronouns they/them, told CBC's Edmonton AM Monday. Lewis said a group met with the Edmonton Pride Festival Society to discuss the participation of police and military in the parade, but it wasn't until they stopped the parade that the Pride committee agreed with its demands. One of those demands was to uninvite Edmonton police, RCMP and the military from future parades. "One of the biggest issues is that there's a lot of individuals within the queer and trans community, within the people of colour community, that just don't feel comfortable around the police because of their personal experiences of trauma," Lewis said. "When police are there, they don't come." The goal of Pride, Lewis said, is to be an inclusive space for all. But the participation of police can be triggering, with many still keenly remembering the 1981 police raid on the Pisces Health Spa where 56 men were arrested for "acts of indecency." As well, the fact that street checks still disproportionately affect black and Indigenous people makes the police presence challenging for some people at Pride. "The way they represent, possibly, their profession or their career impacts everyone around them," they said. Shea (won’t give last name) helped organize the protestors. He says they the protesters are part of a group who didn’t want Edmonton Police in the parade. He says they plan to block the parade until they reach a resolution with Pride organizers. pic.twitter.com/tOOpDH52Qe —@TravisMcEwanCBC Police disappointed but accepting All levels of police have expressed disappointment over the decision. The Edmonton Police Service called it "difficult to understand and disappointing," but they accept it. Mike Elliott, president of the Edmonton Police Association (EPA), was volunteering in the beer gardens at the parade over the weekend. While disappointed, he said he is willing to pursue difficult conversations about the relationship between the community and its police. "I don't want people to be fearful or feel like they can't be comfortable around a police officer," Elliott said Monday. "If they feel that way, we need to hear about what those issues are." Elliott acknowledged past wrongs of the bathhouse raids and said levels of police and government are looking into how to ensure people of colour are not disproportionately targeted by street checks. About a dozen protesters brought the Edmonton Pride parade to a halt on Saturday. The Edmonton Pride Festival Society agreed to the protesters' demands, which included banning the police, military and RCMP from walking in future parades. (Christopher Martin/CBC) But he said it's important police continue to show their support to the community. If they can't do that through the parade, Elliott said his door is open. "I'm more than willing to sit down at the table and find out what can be done, if we can change, what needs to be changed, what doors need to be opened to address their concerns," he said. Listening, he said, will help police learn how to do their jobs better. "I may think I know the issues, but maybe I don't know them all or I don't understand them from their perspective," he said. "But I want to learn from their perspective." Lewis said communication between the two groups would be a great start. They acknowledged the strides police have made in recent years but said it's not good enough yet. Lewis says their demand to uninvite Edmonton police, RCMP and the military is to ensure all members of the community at the parade feel comfortable. (Abdul Malik/Supplied) In an ideal situation, Lewis said they want to march in a city free of marginalization of every minority, regardless of how they identify — and Edmonton is far from it. "Until then, we can't just say that it's enough or that we're content that things have happened," Lewis said. "We recognize that they've been changing and we just want them to keep going forward."<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Old Strathcona was packed with people Saturday, as the Pride Parade officially kicked off this year’s Edmonton Pride Festival. The parade includes floats from local sports teams, politicians, community groups, businesses and law enforcement. “The amount of people here… it’s crazy,” said Cole Pickett. “It’s way different from anything that I’ve experienced. It’s really nice to see.” For one group of young people, it was their first time at Edmonton’s Pride Parade. “It’s just a really nice way to celebrate and support everyone… It’s really fun too,” one girl said. Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's just a really nice way to celebrate and support everyone… It's really fun too," one girl said. “We came to support our friends and be with people who are like us,” her friend added. READ MORE: Gloomy weather doesn’t stop thousands of Edmontonians from attending 2017 Pride Parade Kevin Quail is a retired police officer who now plays for the Edmonton Police Service pipes and drums. Story continues below advertisement “This parade is, hands down, the most energetic, fun parade I’ve ever been in,” he said. It was sunny and warm at the start of the parade but some clouds and light showers rolled in shortly after it began. The parade was also halted for about 20 minutes when a group of demonstrators presented some demands to the Pride Society. Story continues below advertisement The group — which did not affiliate itself with any one organization — described itself as “a number of queer and trans people of colour and their allies.” “A group of people of colour, trans and queer folks and their allies briefly held up the parade to bring more awareness to the fact that the Pride Society had unfortunately asked a lot of people of colour to march as marshals in the parade — which was great — but then when those folks brought their demands and their needs for their own safety to have the police and military, etc. not walk in the parade, those requests were ignored not once but twice,” spokesperson Alexis Hillyard said. “This was the necessary action to have further productive dialogue.” Demonstrators stall parade demanding Pride Society disinvite @edmontonpolice and military from future parades, restructure board/hiring practices to increase diversity among other points. @GlobalEdmonton pic.twitter.com/nD8x1L1YUX — Albert Delitala (@AlbertGlobal) June 9, 2018 This is the list of demands the demonstrators presented to the Pride Society: That the Pride Society uninvite the Edmonton Police Service, RCMP and military from marching in future parades. That the society restructure its board and staff hiring practices to have more representation from people of colour and trans folks. That more well-funded spaces specifically designed for people of colour and trans folks be included in festival. That all mainstream Pride spaces clearly acknowledge and honour pride’s history as a demonstration against police oppression. Hillyard told a Global News reporter that the Pride Society had agreed to meet the demonstrators’ demands before the parade continued. Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Edmonton Pride Festival rejects UCP’s application to march in Pride parade In a statement posted on Twitter, the Pride Society said board representatives met with the demonstrators, forwarded their demands to the rest of the Edmonton Pride Festival Society Board of Directors and, after discussion, a motion was put forward to accept the demands. “The Edmonton Pride Festival Society is in agreement with each of the demands presented,” the society said in a news release shared later Saturday afternoon. “EPS, RCMP and military will not march in the parade until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence.” READ MORE: Pride Centre of Edmonton to more than double in size to keep up with demand The board will also hold community consultations to determine how to move forward with these demands and “to determine how the Edmonton Pride Festival Society can best support all communities suffering from systemic racism and oppression.” The society also thanked the demonstrators for their courage and for remaining peaceful and respectful. June 9 Edmonton Pride Festival statement by Anonymous mhXtDcYr6 on Scribd Story continues below advertisement<doc-sep>“EPS, RCMP and military will not march in the parade until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence,” festival society board members said in a news release . On Saturday, the Edmonton Pride Festival Society barred police officers and military personnel from marching in future parades, hours after protesters blocked the route and demanded the ban. “I know we’ve worked hard to break stereotypes, break barriers,” said Sgt. Michael Elliott, president of the Edmonton Police Association. “We’ve made great steps forward to build relationships.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. “Obviously there’s more work that needs to be done,” Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry with the RCMP’s K Division said Sunday. “What’s important now is we use our energy on having a dialogue with the Pride society and community at large.” Police organizations say they are disappointed to be shut out from marching in the Edmonton Pride parade and hope to work with the festival committee so that officers can eventually rejoin the event. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The annual event was set to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday, and included a number of police officers marching out of uniform for the first time. The parade was halted almost immediately when dozens of protesters — brandishing signs with messages such as “No justice, No pride” and “Racism is a queer issue” — cut off the road. Protest spokeswoman Alexis Hillyard, who said the action was planned on social media and not affiliated with a particular group, outlined four demands including banning police and military. Protesters also called for the society to restructure its hiring process to include more people of colour and transgender people, as well as improving representation in the festival itself. The festival society agreed to the demands. Police organizations said they respect the decision made by the festival society. “We’re very passionate about being reflective of the community we police,” said Landry, who marched in Saturday’s parade. “And we are recruiting … we want all individuals to feel included and that there’s a place for them.” Elliott, who was volunteering at the festival grounds when the standoff took place, lauded the decision to march in the parade out of uniform. “I thought that was a bold step,” he said. As for next year, he said he will participate in Pride regardless if he’s allowed to march. “I’m a little disappointed but this will not stop me from tearing down barriers,” he said. “I’m open to inclusivity, co-operation, and community … that’s what makes us who we are, the diversity we have in our country.” cclancy@postmedia.com twitter.com/clareclancy<doc-sep>The decision by the Edmonton Pride Festival Society to ban police and military members from walking in future parades drew mixed reactions Sunday. Members of the Edmonton Police Service, RCMP and military participated in Saturday's Pride parade. About a dozen people protested their presence and brought the parade to a halt for about half an hour after it began. Protesters on Whyte Avenue, near 104th Street, asked the society to uninvite police and military members, acknowledge the event's historical roots as a protest against police oppression and include more trans people and people of colour on its board and staff. One of the protestors' demands was for the Edmonton Pride Festival Society to include more trans people and people of colour on its board and staff. (CBC) The society agreed to all of the protesters' demands and said in a statement it will not allow EPS, RCMP and members of the military to march in the parade "until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence." Agnieszka Kucharska, a media liaison for the protesters, said she was pleased with the society's response. "It's really good and a relief to have the opportunity to be finally heard and validated," she told CBC News Sunday. 'More dialogue needs to happen': RCMP About a dozen protesters brought the Edmonton pride parade to a halt on Saturday. The Edmonton Pride Festival Society agreed to the protesters' demands, which included banning RCMP, military and Edmonton police from walking in future parades. (Chris Martin/CBC) Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry with the RCMP's K division said the RCMP respects the society's decision. "Obviously, it's our goal that all individuals feel safe with our presence," he said. Approximately 40 people — including police officers, civilian staff, friends and family — participated in the RCMP's Pride parade contingent. Landry said their participation reflects a desire to celebrate diversity within the RCMP and the community. RCMP members agreed to march out of uniform as a "proactive step" to try and make people feel safe, he said. "More dialogue needs to happen," he said. The RCMP is committed to meeting with people who have concerns about police attending the annual parade, he added. 'Marginalizing a marginalized group' The protest held up Saturday's parade for about half an hour. (Chris Martin/CBC) John McDougall, a soldier and member of the Edmonton Police Commission, said he was gutted to hear about the decision. He was on a plane in New York while the protest was happening, but watched with interest on social media because he organized the approximately 10 military members who signed up to march together. The decision to ban military members from the parade amounts to "marginalizing a marginalized group," McDougall said. He added he was disappointed the society made a "snap decision" instead of taking a year to discuss the issue, between parades. "A blanket exclusion without knowing everything isn't the way to go," he said. This is the wrong direction. #exclusion #discussion #communityengagement —@milmedicPA McDougall has worked in the military for three decades, advocating for LGBT issues. "Now I have to go back to work and say to people, 'Thank you for being brave and coming forward, thank you for standing up to represent the LGBTQ+ community at Pride, but now you can't go,' " he said. Once back in Canada, McDougall said he plans to volunteer to be a military liaison for the society and participate in conversations about future military participation. Pride marchers weigh in The society's decision drew strong reactions on social media, and from people who walked in the parade. Ward 3 Coun. Jon Dziadyk, who is also a member of the military, said he was frustrated by the protest because it seemed to "fly in the face of inclusivity." Derek Jagodzinsky said police should be able to walk in Edmonton's pride parade in uniform. (Emilio Avalos/Radio-Canada) Fashion designer Derek Jagodzinsky thought the decision was "kind of ridiculous" and said police should be able to march in uniform at the parade. "If somebody was trying to shoot people or beat up somebody, who's going to protect them?" Jagodzinsky said. KoKo Carlson said people in the queer community have been talking about problems with police for a long time. "The broader part of the community doesn't see those problems for various reasons — white privilege being the main one," Carlson said. "Those voices haven't been listened to and they had to do what they had to do to get heard." KoKo Carlson, who walked in Edmonton's pride parade on Saturday, supports the decision to ban police from the parade. (Emilio Avalos/Radio-Canada) The society's board of directors has committed to hosting a series of community consultations on the topic. A community stakeholders meeting is scheduled for June 25.<doc-sep>
An Alberta RCMP spokesperson said the organization hopes that Saturday’s brief protest during the Edmonton Pride parade will open a dialogue to improve the relationship between police and the LGBTQ community. “We were at the parade yesterday to celebrate the diversity within the RCMP among our employees, as well as to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Edmonton, and to show our support as strong allies and many of us as members of that community ourselves,” Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry said Sunday. “Unfortunately, it is disappointing that certain individuals feel unsafe,” said Landry. “As police, we want everyone to feel safe in our presence.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Unfortunately, it is disappointing that certain individuals feel unsafe," said Landry. "As police, we want everyone to feel safe in our presence." The parade through Old Strathcona was halted for about 20 minutes when a group of demonstrators blocked the route and presented demands to the Pride Society, including disinviting RCMP, Edmonton Police Service and military members from participating. Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Edmonton Pride Parade continues after being stopped by demonstrators The group — which did not affiliate itself with any one organization — described itself as “a number of queer and trans people of colour and their allies.” Alexix Hillyard, spokesperson for the group, told Global News that the issues with military and police had been brought up to the Edmonton Pride Society, and that those requests were ignored not once but twice. READ MORE: Pride Toronto asks police to withdraw application to march in 2018 parade “Our friends, our family and ourselves have been harmed… have been killed by police,” one protester said through a megaphone. “We talked about the fact that we can’t feel safe, we can’t enjoy Pride knowing police are here.” “The Edmonton Pride Festival Society is in agreement with each of the demands presented,” the Edmonton Pride Society said in a news release shared later Saturday afternoon. “EPS, RCMP and military will not march in the parade until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "EPS, RCMP and military will not march in the parade until the community feels that they have taken the necessary steps for all community members to feel safe with their presence." On Monday, the society elaborated. “This is not about individuals who exist within those organizations. Organizations are made up of people but it’s important to remember that when an organization is asked to step aside, change behaviour, or do anything, we are not asking that of each of the individuals within. We are asking the people in power of that organization to effect change. Story continues below advertisement “EPFS is about supporting all members of the community, including those who happen to be employed by the police or military. This is about the systemic racism and oppression that people within our community face from those organizations.” The society also thanked the demonstrators for raising their concerns respectfully and peacefully. “Pride was born from protest against police oppression and to ignore that is to ignore an important part of our history. Some community members stood up and made sure their voices were heard.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Pride was born from protest against police oppression and to ignore that is to ignore an important part of our history. Some community members stood up and made sure their voices were heard." READ MORE: Police to participate out of uniform in London Pride parade It’s a decision that Landry said the RCMP respects, but added they want to work closely with all groups involved. “I think it’s very important that we look at this as an opportunity for improvement, rather than looking at this as a hurdle or a step backward,” Landry said. “The door has now been opened hopefully for some good, strong dialogue.” In a statement released Monday, Edmonton police said: “While the June 9 decision to exclude the Edmonton Police Service from marching in the Pride Parade is difficult to understand and disappointing, we nonetheless will fully accept this decision.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "While the June 9 decision to exclude the Edmonton Police Service from marching in the Pride Parade is difficult to understand and disappointing, we nonetheless will fully accept this decision."