Organizers of the Edmonton Pride festival have banned police officers and military personnel from marching in the future parades, agreeing to the demands of protesters who stalled the event Saturday by blocking the route.

“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,” the board of directors of the Edmonton Pride Festival Society said in news release

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“We thank each of our community members … who had the courage to stand up and make sure their voices were heard.”

The board’s statement acknowledged there would be “many differing opinions” on the decision, but said the society had committed to hold community consultations to determine the next steps forward to allow police and military to again participate as parade entrants.

The annual event was set to kickoff at 11 a.m. Saturday, and was to include a number of police officers marching out of uniform for the first time.

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However, progress was stalled almost immediately when dozens of protesters blocked the route.

Brandishing signs with messages such as “No justice, No pride” and “Racism is a queer issue,” demonstrators called on the Edmonton Pride Festival Society to hear their concerns about police taking part.

“We’re only here because it’s been denied so many times,” said protest spokeswoman Alexis Hillyard, adding the action wasn’t affiliated with a group and was planned on social media.

The standoff saw protesters shouting, “Out of the closet, into the streets” across Whyte Avenue on 104 Street, while non-protesters responded with chants of “We want pride.”

Protesters eventually cleared the route after more than an hour, but not before handing over a list of four demands, including that police and military members be uninvited from future parades.

Other demands called for the festival society to restructure its hiring process to include more people of colour and transgender people, as well as improving representation in the festival itself.

“We were able to come to a resolution,” said Kay Donaldson, a member of the festival society’s board of directors.

“(They) were all peaceful,” Donaldson added. “The community around was not sure what was going on.”

The society’s board discussed the protesters’ concerns later Saturday and passed a motion to accept all four demands.

Photo by Greg Southam Greg Southam / Greg Southam

Police say they support diversity

Last month, city police and RCMP officers decided they wouldn’t wear uniforms while marching in the parade.

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“We’re part of the community, we’re here to support the community,” said Marvin Lange ahead of the parade.

The retired police officer and drum major for the Edmonton Police Service Pipes and Drums said police “don’t want to come across that we’re oppressive.”

Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry with the RCMP’s K Division said police want to celebrate diversity within the agency as well as within the community.

“We’re very happy to be here and show our support,” he said.

Spectator Cody Smith, 24, who is gay, said he was frustrated by the protest.

“Why should the rest of us have to suffer?” he said. “I understand their rights as well as ours, but they’re going about it the wrong way.”

His friend Brandan Adams, 26, drove to Edmonton from Grande Prairie for his first Pride as an openly gay man. “It was good until this happened,” he said.

Despite the tension, the annual parade drew thousands of spectators — and many accompanying dogs — dressed in rainbow garb.

From Star Wars inspired stormtroopers with bright shoulder pads to blow-up pink unicorns, there was no shortage of festive floats this year.

Sarah Emmons, 31, celebrated her first Pride as an out trans woman — “I’ve been crying for the last three days straight, all happy tears.”

“Growing up in Alberta, it’s a very conservative, religious atmosphere typically,” she said. “I just want to enjoy today.”

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