The usual cheers and celebratory atmosphere came to a dramatic halt Sunday when San Francisco Pride’s 46th annual Parade, held its first ever intentional Parade stop, as over one million spectators and 240 marching contingencies stood, some with arms in the air, shaping the letter “O”, in a deeply moving moment of solidarity, remembering the LGBTQIA heroes massacred in Orlando earlier this month.
Here is the notice that went out to contingents from Parade organizers:
Moment of Silence on the Parade Route
Greetings Everyone! …. We produced the banner (below) for a “We Are Orlando” contingent near the front of the SF Pride Parade. That contingent now numbers close to 350 people, including Latinos de Ambiente del Bahia and other Latinx groups marching under their banner, and will feature 49 memorial signs bearing the faces of all those who died on June 12th.
Also in the plans starting back then, and with the final logistics now worked out, we’re going to attempt our first ever intentional stop of the Parade, for a Moment of Silence on the Parade route
At approximately 11:40 AM, give or take, when the We Are Orlando contingent and banner reaches the Grandstand area, we will signal the entire Parade on Market Street to come to a halt and remain silent (turning off any sound/music they have). After 30 seconds, we will signal the Parade to begin moving — so be prepared to start walking/driving again!
If you wish to show solidarity with We Are Orlando, from your position in the Parade, please raise your arm straight up, and make an “O” with you hand — like a protest hand sign! …..
OTHER ORLANDO OBSERVATIONS
We’ll also be doing a Moment of Silence from the Main Stage, with ALL 23+ venues in Civic Center turning off their sound at the same time, too! This will occur at 1:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:20 PM on Sunday. Both of these maneuvers are first-times for us, and have required a lot of internal coordination, but we need YOU to help us make it happen! ……..
Thank you! For both your time and effort in making the Pride Parade something to be proud of, and for helping us honor those lost to Orlando, simply because they dared to be, openly and bravely, who they were!
Today, We Are Orlando, and we are San Francisco Pride — one community, one family!
Many contingencies and signage reflected tributes to Orland.
See Video:
More pictures to be uploaded in updates.
#SFPRIDE
#WEAREORLANDO
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#SanFranciscoPRIDE
@MelanieNathan1