Pride Parade cancelled mid-route after pro-Palestinian demonstration on Yonge

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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators forced the Pride Parade to be cancelled on Sunday evening after disrupting the event mid-route on Yonge St.

Pride Toronto’s X account posted the update at about 6:38 p.m., saying that the remainder of the parade had been cancelled, although the street fair and stages remained operational.

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” the post said.

About 20 protesters, calling themselves the Coalition Against Pinkwashing, according the Toronto Star, began chanting “Free Palestine” and “Pride wants a riot” near the Yonge-Wellesley St. intersection, disrupting what had been a celebratory mood.

Toronto Pride said in a statement later that the decision to cancel the rest of the parade was made due to their “commitment to ensuring public safety.

“While we deeply respect and uphold everyone’s right to peacefully protest, our foremost priority is the well-being of all participants and spectators,” the statement said. “We recognize the Pride Parade as a highly anticipated event that many organizations and individuals eagerly prepare for. We empathize with those who were looking forward to participating and regret any inconvenience caused by this decision.”

Before the disruption, Toronto’s downtown area was festooned with rainbow regalia as revellers lined the route of one of Canada’s largest Pride parades.

There were more than 200 contingents and 200,000 marchers in Toronto’s 43rd annual Pride Parade, which started at Bloor and Church Sts., moved west to Yonge, headed south to Dundas St., and was supposed to end at Nathan Phillips Square.

While Pride is a celebration of rights, it is also a protest for equality.

“As we unveil the theme ‘Be______’ for Pride Toronto 2024, we invite everyone to join us in celebrating the right to be united in our fight for existence and acceptance. Pride Month is more than a celebration; it’s a declaration of our collective identity and resilience,” said Kojo Modeste, executive director of Pride Toronto.

Christian Hamilton and his partner travelled to Toronto from Los Angeles for the event.

“We have been coming since 2003 and that was our first Pride in Toronto. The rest of the world is catching on, but Toronto is still the most inclusive place we have found,” Hamilton said.

Matt Anderson was out celebrating his third parade.

“It is important to be here. There is a lot of homophobia across Canada, and we need to support the community. I plan to be here every year,” Anderson said.

Queenie was riding a Spider motorcycle in the parade.

“We are here to support the community and our friends,” said Queenie, with Ride With Guardians of the Children.

Jessica Mombourquete and her daughter got up at dawn to drive to the parade from Sarnia.

“It is the first time we have made the trek. I’m a mom, and this hits close to home for me and my daughter. We are both part of the community,” Mombourquete said.

You can be yourself at the parade, added Kevin Johnson

“We need joy and love and can’t accept silence,” he said.

— With files from Kevin Connor

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