How the internet reacted to Edmonton's Pride Parade being cancelled

Pride flag/Shutterstock

People are not happy about Edmonton’s Pride Parade being cancelled.

Following news of the Edmonton Pride Festival Society’s (EPFS) April 10 announcement, people are voicing their disappointment all over social media, with some laying the blame on the society’s board of directors, and others on the groups who halted last year’s parade by protesting the event’s inclusion of police.

The cancellation came after an April 4 meeting that ended in a call to police after members of Shades of Colour and RaricaNow, groups advocating for the rights of queer and trans Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, refugees, and newcomers to Canada, allegedly arrived to protest. A Facebook post published by Shades of Colour states that they were not protesting and were merely there to support those of their group who were planning to make speeches.

EPFS stated in their initial release that they would be releasing additional information about the decision to cancel the event over the coming week.

Here’s what Edmontonians — and the rest of the internet — thought of Wednesday’s news:

My heart goes out to all those in Edmonton. Stay strong and fight for what’s yours! They can take the festival away, but they can’t take your pride! March anyways! #yegPride

— ✨🌟Jack🌟✨ (@jack_vanier) April 11, 2019

Pride being cancelled by an mostly-white board because they don’t want to listen to marginalized, racialized queer folks talk about their safety is the epitome of white privilege. Y’all can do better, Edmonton is more than this.

— Nisha 🏳️‍🌈 (@AnotherNisha) April 11, 2019

lol at edmonton pride going “we’re just some volunteers” as if it isn’t a large org with massive corporate buy ins as a way to deflect the fact that they don’t really want to acknowledge the racism and issues involving police and military presence at pride

— Lvl 10 Catomancer (@Jacezilla) April 11, 2019

In the times we are in, we need Pride more than ever. I can imagine this must be especially concerning given the political climate in Alberta. Sending my love and solidarity to my friends in Edmonton and area. You are strong and I know the community will rise.

— Brandon Rhéal Amyot (@BrandonAmyot) April 11, 2019

On a rather more distressing note, I’m sad to see the news that the Edmonton Pride Festival has been cancelled – and especially at a political moment when we should be celebrating diversity & inclusion, and giving voice to the many perspectives that enrich #yeg

— Paula Simons (@Paulatics) April 11, 2019

We drank that corporate Kool Aid, those bank and beer float dollars, mistaking it for progress, and here we are in 2019, almost 40 YEARS since the first official Pride in Edmonton—cancelled.

Actually fucking cancelled. But what did we expect? 🙃

— VIVEK SHRAYA 🆚 (@vivekshraya) April 11, 2019

Choosing to believe that some amazing people are going to step up and figure out how to rectify this Edmonton Pride 2019 situation!!!

Ps I’m available to help if you are one of those people and see this. 🙂

— Madison Rae (@maddyraez) April 11, 2019

After reading the exhausting list of scheduling, programming, logistical and significant financial demands from the two community groups, I’m not surprised that the Pride board decided to just cancel Edmonton’s official Pride events.https://t.co/6OJqU1FTda

— David P Church (@dpchurch) April 11, 2019

If anyone needs information regarding #yegPride, I am documenting and have compiled the events/situation here: https://t.co/psyl6OxNxp

— RadicalQueerScholar (@RadQueerScholar) April 11, 2019

um pride 2019 just got cancelled in edmonton???? this entire year is cancelled why can’t there be one day in the entire fucking year where everyone is loved and accepted and safe.

— k(eye)lynn (@kailynnrm) April 11, 2019

Here's how the internet reacted to Edmonton's Pride Parade being cancelled

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