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Mpls. chief: Officers can't wear uniforms in Pride parade

This comes after a call last year that kept police participation out of the parade completely, until a decision was reversed the day before.
Credit: SKY 11
Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of Minneapolis in 2016 for the Pride Festival Parade.

MINNEAPOLIS - Officers won't be allowed to march in this year's Minneapolis PRIDE parade in uniform, according to a statement from the chief.

Chief Medaria Arradondo made the announcement on the Minneapolis Police Department's Facebook page, stating the decision is in response to "adamant opposition of law enforcement’s participation by some representatives of our local LGBTIQ communities who have stated they feel strongly they do not want any law enforcement officers marching in uniform in the parade."

Arradondo states sworn officers who wish to participate must be in civilian attire. Both sworn and civilian employees may also wear a MPD rainbow T-shirt with a "badge design on the front."

Law enforcement officers were asked not to participate at all in last June's PRIDE Parade, following the acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez in the death of Philando Castile. Organizers said at the time, emotions were too high so they chose to forgo police participation to "respect the pain the community is feeling right now."

Ultimately, PRIDE organizers reversed their decision the day before the parade, allowing officers to march in the annual event.

Arradondo states they will continue the conversation to try and repair the relationship between the two groups.

"Genuine relationship-building work should be done on a daily basis and not solely focused around a singular event," he states. "I have, and will continue to reach out to members of our LGBTIQ communities over the next several days to help create opportunities for important conversations regarding trauma and the harm that has been experienced both with law enforcement in general and specifically with the MPD, and how we might forge a pathway forward that involves healing and trust."

The Twin Cities PRIDE Festival takes place June 23-24 in Minneapolis.

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