LA Pride Assembles Peaceful Protest

LOS ANGELES – Breaking with its decision to cancel all in-person events due to COVID-19, LA Pride organizers decided to peacefully assemble a protest in Hollywood, where the first ever permitted Pride Parade took place, in solidarity with the Black community.

Fifty years ago, Christopher Street West (CSW) took to the streets of Hollywood Boulevard to peacefully protest against police brutality and oppression.

Today, not much has changed.

Demonstrators continue to rally across the US, and memorial services to honor George Floyd will take place in Minnesota, Texas and North Carolina over the course of six days. The Minneapolis service will occur tomorrow, Thursday, June 4.

At least 9,300 people have been arrested across the United States amid the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died last week in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn., and police brutality nationwide.

Experts hired by George Floyd’s family and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner have concluded his death was a homicide.

Manslaughter and second-degree murder charges have been filed against Derek Chauvin, the officer who prosecutors say held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. The second-degree murder charge has been increased from third-degree murder.

U.S. Sen. Amy Kloubuchar announced on Twitter Wednesday afternoon that three other officers involved in the death will be charged.

Chauvin, who was the officer seen on video with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, was charged last week with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

Chauvin and the other three officers at the scene have been fired. The Department of Justice is investigating.

“We feel that it is our moral imperative to honor the legacies of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who bravely led the Stonewall uprising, by standing in solidarity with the Black community against systemic racism and joining the fight for meaningful and long-lasting reform,” LA Pride organizers said.

The California Department of Public Health recommends that participants engaging in the march should wear face coverings at all times.

The peaceful protest is set for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 14, at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Hollywood.