Chicago officials address safety concerns ahead of this weekend's Pride Parade
CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago's top police officials on Friday addressed safety concerns before this weekend's Pride Parade. The annual event, now in its 53rd year, is a celebration on the streets of Lakeview.
The Police Department announced it has canceled days off for officers, and will have a greater police presence along the parade route.
Police Supt. Larry Snelling said the CPD canceled days off to have more manpower—not just at Pride and the other events this weekend, but all around the city.
Chicago Police will be on the ground—and according to some signs that have been set up, in the air with drones.
Police roadblocks have also already been set up along some of the sidewalks, and along Roscoe Street, portable gate arms are at the ready to keep traffic out.
"You will see an abundance of police officers out there—not because they're trying stop anyone from having fun," Snelling said. "They just want to make sure that everyone who's having fun gets the opportunity to do it safely."
The CPD is also working with the FBI to investigate any threats directed at the parade.
Snelling also emphasized that one major priority is preventing the crowds and chaos that in recent years have taken place after the parade—particularly along the nightlife strip of North Halsted Street.
"It's important to understand that when we have large groups, large gatherings, and it turns violent, it becomes problematic for everyone involved," Snelling said.
In 2022, two separate violent incidents in the area after the parade sent six people to the hospital.
Street takeovers have also occurred on Belmont Avenue near the Red and Brown Line 'L' stop the night after the parade.
"We want to make sure that everyone who shows up is safe. We want to make sure that every participant is safe. We've seen this parade in the past. People just go there to have a good time, and the parade goes off well," Snelling said. "However, what we're concerned about more than anything else is what occurs late into the night after the parade. There's a neighborhood that's residential. We also have our business corridors over there. And it's important that when we see these crowds, that they're celebrating peacefully; that they're not disrupting the way of life of the residents over at the location where the parade will be taking place."
This year, the parade will have a new start time of 11 a.m., a different route, and a smaller number of floats, as tens of thousands of people are expected to pack the route this Sunday. The parade will begin at Broadway and West Sheridan Road (3900 North), and proceed south on Broadway and then Halsted Street beginning at Grace Street, east on Belmont Avenue, south on Broadway again, and east on Diversey Parkway.
In past recent years, the parade had started five blocks farther north, at Broadway and Montrose Avenue in Uptown.
Those changes were announced earlier this year when organizers said city officials had safety and logistical concerns.
Among their concerns is the city's capacity to manage a range of big events throughout the summer, with the NASCAR STret Race and the Democratic National Convention right around the corner.
The parade will be capped at 125 entries this year. Last year, it was 199.
Last year, the parade increased security in light of rising attacks against the LGBTQ+ community. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security announced in May that LGBTQ+-related events might be targeted by foreign terrorist organizations or supporters.
But the enthusiasm for the event has hardly been dampened.
"Everybody coming around in the community and just celebrating love and life—it's just so much fun," said Brendon Ware, who will attend the Pride Parade. Chicagoans love a party. We love to go out, have a good time—so it just brings the party right down the street."
Cory Esposito is also planning to attend the parade, though he probably won't make a day of it.
"I show up every year to see the different balloons. I usually go home after a little bit," Esposito said. "People do start drinking kind of early, and the rest of the day gets away from them. And t's an exciting time, so I can see why."
The Pride Parade this year is one of several events—and preparations from events—that will have Chicago busy. The Rolling Stones play their second of two concerts at Soldier Field Sunday night, as they visit for their Hackney Diamonds Tour.
Nearby, the NASCAR Street Race setup is already under way, and street closures are in progress.
The city on Friday night closed off part of Balbo Avenue and Drive, from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Roosevelt Road will close at 7 p.m. Saturday.