OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Friday kicks off Pride weekend in Washington's capital city, and this year there will be increased security at events, according to the Olympia Police Department. In the wake of the Orlando terror attack, Olympia police officers will be stepping up their patrols.
For years, officers have been a visible presence during Capital City Pride, but this year is different. Instead of just focusing on crowd and traffic control, there will be a handful of officers specifically assigned to safety and security. That group will be mingling with people in the crowd and watching for anyone who might want to cause trouble.
“We anticipate that we will probably have a much larger crowd because people want to stand with us shoulder-to-shoulder and to say no to hate and to say they embrace the LGBTQ community," said Capital City Pride president Anna Schlecht.
The weekend festivities and parade on Sunday are expected to bring out more than 15,000 people. Along with crowd control and security detail, some police officers and their families will be actively participating in the parade. A precise number on the amount of officers that will be on hand was not immediately available. The extra vigilance, however, is a welcomed relief for the LGBT community.
“[The Orlando attack] makes us afraid for our safety," said Schlecht. "It also underscores why we have to come together because the best security we have is in community, as in being out to our friends and families and coworkers. We’re taking precautions. We know that people will be looking over their back, but we also know that they will be hugging each other for everything they’re worth.”
Capital City Pride is known as "the first small town pride," starting 26 years ago as a protest march-- then a music festival. Now, Schlecht says, it's a combination of both." Pride organizers are determined to make this year one of healing through celebration and love.
