NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch criticized NYC Pride organizers for their 2021 policy banning armed uniformed police officers from the Pride March. She argued this policy contradicts the inclusivity celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community. The organizers allowed the NYPD's Gay Officers Action League to march in uniform but without service weapons, emphasizing concerns about police presence being potentially threatening. Tisch believes that if officers can secure the event, they should also be allowed to march under their own banner. The discussion reveals ongoing tensions regarding safety and representation within the LGBTQ+ community and law enforcement.
It is the height of hypocrisy that uniformed officers from GOAL are fit to line the parade route and keep everyone safe, but they are unable to march in their own uniform and under their own banner.
The sense of safety that law enforcement is meant to provide can instead be threatening, and at times dangerous, to those in our community who are most often targeted with excessive force and/or without reason.
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