KABC’s Ken Jeffries and Jim Roope are covering the LA Pride festival – listen to 790AM, KABC for live updates.
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CNS) – With nerves rattled by a mass shooting at a gay
nightclub in Florida and the arrest of a suspect carrying guns and explosive
materials in Santa Monica, security was dramatically increased today at the
46th LA Pride Parade and festival in West Hollywood.
The event, however, was held as scheduled, with organizers saying they
would not bow to the threat of terrorism.
Elected officials from West Hollywood and Los Angeles gathered at the
parade site this morning and said they were unified in their outrage at the
Florida shooting that killed 50 people and injured at least 53 others, and
encouraged parade and festival attendees to be vigilant. They joined attendees
in a moment of silence in remembrance of the shooting victims before the parade
began.
“Forty-six years ago, members of the LGBTQ community came out in cities
across the country in response to the Stonewall Riots,” according to a
statement from the board of directors of Christopher Street West, which
sponsors the event. “Today, we are heartbroken that so many of our brothers,
sisters and allies were lost in this tragic attack. As we remember them today
at our moment of silence, we must continue to show our pride, not just today
but every day.
“Our brave founders made this happen to show the world who we are. We
will be loud. We will be proud and we will celebrate in honor of all those
lost. Today’s parade and festival will continue on as originally scheduled. We
will also be holding a rally on our main stage this afternoon.”
Sheriff’s officials said an estimated 150,000 people attended the
parade, on par with last year’s event. A total of about 400,000 are believed to
attend festivities over the three-day run of the event.
LA Pride is one of the nation’s biggest public festivals celebrating
gay, lesbian and other alternate lifestyles, honoring the LGBTQ community’s
past struggles while celebrating its future generation of leaders.
Following the overnight shooting in Orlando, Florida, today’s event
became a memorial for those killed in the massacre. Nerves were further rattled
with news of a morning arrest in Santa Monica of a man who was carrying
multiple weapons and explosives materials, and told investigators he was
planning to attend the Pride festival.
Authorities insisted there was no connection between the suspect and the
shooter in Orlando.
Following the Orlando shooting, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies
activated their Criminal Intelligence Bureau to monitor information about the
Orlando shooter’s links to ISIS, and possible local threats.
“In light of the unfortunate shooting incident in Orlando, Florida, the
Sheriff’s Department is fully prepared to respond to a similar situation,
should the need exist,” said sheriff’s Lt. Edward Ramirez told City News
Service.
“As a result of the Pride Weekend, security has been increased. We, as
a department, are in heightened awareness and our Criminal Intelligence Bureau
has been activated today and they are gathering and disseminating information,
as they receive it.”
Sheriff’s officials, however, urged people not to change their plans to
attend the festival.
“We want to ensure the public that was have a large law enforcement
presence and we encourage (the public) to come to West Hollywood and enjoy the
parade, music, food and festivities.”
Some people arriving for the event early this morning were in tears.
“I think there is grief, it’s a very mournful feeling that we’re all
in,” one woman told KTLA. “But I think that for me (the mass murder) is more
of a reason to stand out here to say, `I am gender queer and these are my
people.’
“We are people, I think if anything it’s just another reason to come
out here to celebrate who we are just like anyone else,” she said.
The 46th annual LA Pride Parade was, held along Santa Monica
Boulevard,has been held every year since 1970, except for 1973 when infighting
over crude displays the previous two years left the organizers in disarray. The
parade was held in Hollywood until 1979, when it moved to West Hollywood.
The festival began Friday and is scheduled to conclude at 11 p.m. Grammy-
nominated singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen will be the main stage
headliner.
Reaction to the Orlando shooting poured in from across the country,
including the Southland.
Richard Zaldivar, director of a community organization that serves
Latino LGBT people, said the shooting attack shows that Americans cannot “go
to other lands and preach tolerance until hate is eradicated here in our
homeland.”
Although details were still emerging about the motivations of the
Orlando shooter — who authorities have deemed a terrorist and who allegedly
claimed allegiance to ISIS — Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin, who is
openly gay, said the massacre “appears to have been motivated by homophobia.”
“As such, it is a reminder that homophobia is dangerous and can be
deadly,” he said, adding that his plans to take part in the Pride Parade were
not changed.
“The parade is a chance for the LGBT community to come together in the
name of love — love for one another and for ourselves,” he said. “Today we
extend that love to our brothers and sisters in Orlando and march in solidarity
with them.”
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, the city’s first openly gay mayor,
announced plans for a 7:30 p.m. vigil at the city’s Harvey Milk Park in memory
of the shooting victims.
“Long Beach stands in strong solidarity with our LGBT brothers and
sisters in Orlando, Florida,” Garcia said. “This act of terrorism and hate
has no place in our country. These victims were targeted for being gay and for
living and loving openly.”
The Israeli-American Council in Los Angeles issued a statement
expressing shock and horror at the shootings.
“On behalf of the Israeli-American community, we condemn this act of
terrorism in the strongest terms,” according to the group. “Whether terrorism
strikes in Brussels, Paris, Tel Aviv or Orlando, responsible leaders,
policymakers and moral people everywhere have a duty to speak our forcefully
against this global evil, and to stand against the hateful ideology that fuels
it. This is a growing danger that threatens innocents everywhere.”
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CNS) – With news of a horrific massacre of gay and
lesbian people spreading, 400,000 people were expected to gather in West
Hollywood today for one of the nation’s biggest public festivals celebrating
gay, lesbian and other alternate lifestyles.
But what normally is a celebration was likely to became a memorial for
the 50 gay, lesbian or transexual persons gunned down overnight in Orlando.
America’s worst mass gun attack also prompted sheriff’s deputies to increase
security at today’s Pride Festival in West Hollywood.
Normally, 400,000 people or so usually party at a rambunctious
celebration of freedom and sexual orientation. Deputies today urged festival
participants not to change their plans.
In the predawn hours, and as the intelligence community nationwide
spread the news, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies activated their Criminal
Intelligence Bureau to monitor information about the shooter’s links to ISIS,
and possible local threats.
“In light of the unfortunate shooting incident in Orlando, Florida, the
Sheriff’s Department is fully prepared to respond to a similar situation,
should the need exist,” said sheriff’s Lt. Edward Ramirez told City News
Service this morning.
“As a result of the Pride Weekend, security has been increased. We, as
a department, are in heightened awareness and our Criminal Intelligence Bureau
has been activated today and they are gathering and disseminating information,
as they receive it.”
“We want to ensure the public that was have a large law enforcement
presence and we encourage (the public) to come to West Hollywood and enjoy the
parade, music, food and festivities.”
Early arrivals for today’s Pride Weekend were seen in tears.
“I think there is grief, it’s a very mournful feeling that we’re all
in,” one woman told Los Angeles TV station KTLA.
“But I think that for me (the mass murder) is more of a reason to stand
out here to say, `I am gender queer and these are my people.
“We are people, I think if anything it’s just another reason to come
out here to celebrate who we are just like anyone else.
The 46th annual LA Pride Parade was to continue along Santa Monica
Boulevard in West Hollywood today. Before the gun carnage in Florida, 400,000
people were expected.
The parade has been held every year since 1970, except for 1973 when
infighting over crude displays the previous two years left the organizers in
disarray. The parade was held in Hollywood until 1979, when it moved to West
Hollywood.
The festival began Friday and was to conclude at 11 p.m. tonight Grammy-
nominated singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen will be the main stage
headliner.
Reaction began to come in as news of the overnight massacre spread.
Richard Zaldivar, director of a community organization that serves Latino LGBT
persons, said the shooting attack shows that Americans cannot “go to other
lands and preach tolerance until hate is eradicated here in our homeland.”