Rhode Island Pride’s Resistance Rally for Queer and Transgender People of Color is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, June 20. And they’re planning to follow as closely as possible to the same route of the very first Pride march in Providence in 1976—starting with a rally at Cathedral Square and marching to the State House for a second rally.
“This event is being held without coordination with the city or police,” advises a RI Pride press release. “For the safety of all attendees we ask that you wear a mask and try to maintain social distancing guidelines.”
The rally and march are scheduled on the date RI Pride was to hold its annual Pridefest and Illuminated Parade, which have both been postponed due to pre
From the release:
The Stonewall uprising and ensuing riots were a tipping point for queer folks to band together to strategically fight for our rights and freedoms on a scale never before seen in our community.
Drag queens, trans siblings, sex workers and butch lesbians started the fight for our freedoms and now it’s our responsibility to pick up the traditions of change and help our Black and Trans siblings in our combined fight for equality.
Let us rise up against police brutality and systemic oppression. Let us rise up against racial profiling, unfair treatment and discrimination.
Let us strip away the circuit parties and vanity that Pride Celebrations have been known to become and let’s get back to our roots. We are working towards pulling away from the trademark that has caused division within our community for decades and honoring the lives we’ve lost in our fight for equality. We are here to amplify the voices often erased by our history.
For more information about about the rally, please follow this Facebook link.
If you would like to share your voice and platform at the rally:Speakers, poets and any performance artists please email Alijah.ileana@gmail.com (QPOC only).
If you would like to carry one of the many community flags in the march email info@prideri.com (QPOC only).
If you would like to be a safety marshal on the march or staff a water station please email info@prideri.com.
Click here for more on Rhode Island Pride, their Facebook page; or visit the RI Pride website.
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