Wednesday, April 23
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Southeast Community Services
901 Shelby Street, 2nd Floor
Pride was born from resistance—a rebellion against a routine police raid at the Stonewall Inn in 1969. Yet today, many Pride celebrations invite the very institutions that criminalize our most marginalized community members. Last month, Indy Pride cancelled their public safety town without any real justification. This was particularly troubling given that, in 2020, Indy Pride pledged they would “no longer use police to provide security at in-person festivals in support of recent protests against police brutality.”
Denied the right to speak or determine our celebration, we organized a town hall. Indy Pride and the IMPD accepted our invitation to this community conversation and representatives of both will be on our panel. This is an urgent matter and everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. We are unashamed to make our position crystal clear. Like every year before, in 2020 we proudly took the side of the people. Our position has not changed because reality has not changed. Police brutality did not end in 2020; in fact, two years ago we were in the middle of a particularly violent year in which the Indianapolis police shot 18 people killing 9 Black men.
After presentations on the history of Pride and community-based public safety alternatives, we will have a period for questions and answers and dialogue. We are confident that Indy Pride will be faithful to the radical roots of Pride and return to the side of the people.
Join us on Wednesday, April 23, from 6:00–8:00 pm at Southeast Community Services to build a collective vision for a Pride that truly protects us.