About 250 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Franklin Street ahead of the annual Pride Parade in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood Sunday.
The protesters held signs, waved flags and chanted “No Pride in genocide,” referring to Israeli’s ongoing military assault in Gaza.
Denver Police Department officers parked a line of motorcycles along the curb in an effort to contain the protestors on the sidewalk ahead of the parade’s 9:30 a.m. start time. About an hour later, protestors moved onto the parade path and began walking the route to PrideFest at Civic Center Park. Police did not intervene, but they paused the parade for about five minutes to create a gap of space between protestors and the following parade participants.
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The parade is a primary attraction of the annual Denver PrideFest, which included activities on Saturday and Sunday that honor the LGBTQ community. This year’s PrideFest was the 50th anniversary of the event. Organizers say it’s the third largest pride festival in the country.
The parade traveled 14 blocks along Colfax, from Cheesman Park and to Civic Center Park.
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Members of Denver’s Jewish community march in the Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue took place on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupt Denver’s Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Members of the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association ride along Colfax Avenue in Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue was held on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver police officers blocked street access in front of pro-Palestinian protestors at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver police officers blocked street access in front of pro-Palestinian protestors at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors lined Colfax Avenue towards the start of Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
A vendor passes pro-Palestinian protestors along Colfax Avenue ahead of the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver’s annual Pride Parade along Colfax Avenue was held on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, participates in the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Denver City Council member Shontel Lewis hands out candy at the Denver Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Pro-Palestinian protestors lined Colfax Avenue toward the start of Denver’s Pride Parade on June 23, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
The Center on Colfax, a primary organizer of the parade, said in a statement that the organization supports the rights of the protestors.
“The pride movement was born in protest. We support the rights of free speech and assembly. We ask that protestors remain non-violent in their right to protest. We support calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region,” the statement reads.
The parade was able to continue.
Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip reportedly has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians. It was prompted by an October 2023 attack by Hamas that killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in about 250 hostages.
According to social media posts from protest organizer Students for a Democratic Society Denver, protesters say a genocide is occurring against Palestinians and that “this genocide is emboldened by business partnerships with corporations that participate in Denver Pride,” including Lockheed Martin and Hewlett Packard.
Besides the parade, PrideFest features attractions such as food, a 5K and live entertainment, including appearances by Alyssa Edwards, Shea Couleé, Pattie Gonia and Mirage.
Organizers expected the event to draw more than 500,000 attendees.
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