Chicago Police Department leaders announced their safety plan Thursday ahead of the city’s 54th Pride Parade this weekend.
The parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. Sunday, is expected to draw roughly a million people to the North Side neighborhoods of Northalsted, Lake View, Uptown and Lincoln Park.
Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said the department’s goal is to prevent any outbreaks of violence after the parade ends, which he said have occurred in previous years.
“We want to make sure that what we’ve seen in the past, where we’ve had people who have come into the neighborhood after the party is over and engage in violent acts … that’s not something that we’re going to tolerate,” Snelling said.
There will be a heavy police presence along the parade route, he said. There will be markers along the route, he said, for parade-goers to refer to if they call 911 for help or to report criminal activity.
Snelling added that officers will remain in the Lake View and Lincoln Park neighborhoods after the parade ends to maintain peace in the area.
“Last year, we made 52 arrests,” Snelling said. “We will do the same [this year] if we have to.”
Additional safety measures include street closures beginning Sunday.
Snelling acknowledged that the LGBTQ+ community has experienced an increased amount of backlash under President Donald Trump’s administration. But he said his department isn’t aware of any present threats against the queer community ahead of the parade.
“I think everybody should go out and enjoy the parade, have a great time, because one of the points of terrorism is to change your way of life and your way of thinking, and have you live in fear,” Snelling said. “As [the] Chicago Police Department, we’re here to help make sure that everyone can go out and enjoy themselves and enjoy the fruits of everything this country has to offer.”
Anna Savchenko is a reporter for WBEZ. You can reach her at asavchenko@wbez.org.
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