Uniformed, Armed Cops Banned From Aurora Pride Parade, Organizers Say

AURORA, IL — The organizers of Aurora’s annual pride parade insist that they have no problem with members of the city’s police force participating in the event, but have made it clear that they just don’t want them to look like cops if they are going to show up.

Parade organizers from Aurora Pride announced on Tuesday that while they will continue to “allow and encourage” the participation of Aurora police department officers, they are being asked to show up without service weapons, out of uniform and without the presence of any police vehicles, organizers said in a statement.

The parade is scheduled for June 12.

In explaining their decision, organizers said the choice to ban uniformed officers did not come lightly but indicated that members of the community “feel uneasy” in the presence of official police vehicles as well as uniformed officers due to “negative experiences” that they or others may have had in the past.

“Some of these experiences may be with the Aurora Police Department, some may be with other departments,” organizers wrote in a statement explaining the decision. “APD is absolutely ahead of many other departments, but there's still work to be done.”

Paris Lewbel, the spokesman for the Aurora Police Department, called the decision to ban uniformed officers from the parade disappointing. Lewbel said that the department has a large group of LGBTQ+ staff members and was one of the first agencies in the state to implement a LGBTQ+ liaison officer.

"APD is a major ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and we have participated in every event since the inception of Aurora’s pride parade," Lewbel said in a statement to Patch on Wednesday night. "While we are saddened to hear that our officers are banned from participating in their uniforms in an event focused on inclusion and acceptance, our officers will stand strong in uniform and provide security for the parade to ensure all in attendance are able to enjoy the parade safety."

Lewbel added that the Aurora Police Department will continue its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

Parade organizers said on Tuesday that uniformed officers would be allowed along the parade route already, but organizers said they want attendees to feel as comfortable as possible.

However, Aurora Mayor and Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin on Wednesday said he is “extremely distressed and disturbed” that organizers have banned uniformed police officers at the pride parade.

The parade, which started in Aurora in 2018, is meant to celebrate the city coming together as one Aurora, the mayor said, which made the committee’s decision hard to fathom,” Irvin said.

“It is baffling how what is supposed to be an event focused on and celebrating equity, diversity, and inclusion is now choosing to exclude others,” Irvin said in a statement Wednesday. “Specifically, the law enforcement officers who have supported the pride parade since its inception and who work so diligently to maintain safety and order at the event.”

Irvin strongly advised the committee to reconsider its decision and set a Thursday deadline for the group to respond.

The group said that the relationship between police and the LGBTQ community has ranged from “oppressive and violent to contentious and friendly.”

In the city’s first two parades, the group said that unformed officers were welcomed as were official police vehicles. The group allowed the presence of uniformed cops as a way of building bridges, organizers said, but said that the “climate has changed” in 2022.

“Relationships between police and community members are more strained than they were 3 years ago, in Aurora and nationwide,” the group said. “There continue to be incidents of harassment and violence, primarily focused on people of color and LGBTQ people. We recognize that these incidents are the result of a minority of officers, but law enforcement organizations as a whole are not addressing these incidents in ways that build trust with the community.

“APD is absolutely ahead of many other departments, but there's still work to be done. A lack of trust in the people sworn to protect breeds fear, and we feel that we must stand with those in our community who’ve been victimized. Aurora is a majority-minority city, and the rights of people of color, LGBTQ people, and those who live both identities need their rights protected. At this time, that means asking our LGBTQ and allied siblings in law enforcement to participate out of uniform.”