June 4, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Francesca Barjon - 516-236-9091 - francesca23frb@gmail.com
Jay W. Walker - 917-776-4146 - jayw.walker@gmail.com 
Jon Carter - 215-668-4288 - jboydcarter@gmail.com

Reclaim Pride Coalition - Press@ReclaimPrideNYC.org 

THE 2020 QUEER LIBERATION MARCH

FOR BLACK LIVES AND AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY

June 28, 2020. Location and Time, TBA.

The Reclaim Pride Coalition has been monitoring events and carefully deliberating to determine the nature of this year’s Queer Liberation March. We have determined that the only way to move forward is to once again have a physical March through the streets of Manhattan on Pride Sunday, June 28. Our March will center the movement for Black Lives and focus on the violence committed against Black bodies by law enforcement and the mass incarceration state.

RPC’s Queer Liberation March for Black Lives and Against Police Brutality will be focused on elevating and protecting Black Lives. This moment, the principles of the 1970 march, and the RPC founding mission demand it. Black Americans and their children have suffered disproportionate abuse at the hands of America's white supremacist power structure. The most marginalized among Black Communities, like Trans people, Immigrants, Disabled people, Deaf and Hard of Hearing people and Neurologically Diverse people live under an even greater risk for the worst outcomes within this system. Inordinate risk calls for urgent consideration.

Fifty years ago, on June 28th, 1970, the LGBTQ+ movement created the Christopher Street Liberation Day March. It was mounted on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots which Trans Women of Color and our community’s Black youth played a crucial role in initiating. That beautiful, intersectional March, produced by the Gay Liberation Front and allies, confronted the same oppression and police brutality that protesters are responding to today. The Gay Liberation Front went on to create an important dialogue and relationship with Huey Newton and The Black Panthers. 

RPC is keenly aware that the NYPD is a major problem: Tuesday night, a peaceful march for Trans people of color who have been killed by police and other bigots was attacked by the NYPD. One of our members, Jason Rosenberg, received multiple injuries including a broken arm, and was repeatedly denied medical care while in custody for over 5 hours. Jason was not alone in sustaining injuries or in being denied care that night. And we are certain that the same is true for many of the hundreds of Black protestors arrested over the course of the last week.

The Reclaim Pride Coalition will continue to seek guidance from the Black Queer Community and our Elders to program meaningful actions. We invite our Participating Organizations and individuals to follow suit where appropriate. On June 28th we will all explore what the future of Racial Justice looks like. Join Us.  

Location and Time will be announced in the coming days.

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Reclaim Pride Coalition (RPC) is a New York City-based group comprised of LGBTQ+ activists in alliance with dozens of grassroots community groups, nationally and internationally. In June 2019, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, RPC mobilized more than 45,000 people to recreate the original 1970 Gay Pride march route uptown from Stonewall to Central Park. 

Reclaim Pride Coalition

Facebook: @QueerMarch
Twitter: @QueerMarch
Instagram: @QueerMarch

Website: https://reclaimpridenyc.org
Press: https://reclaimpridenyc.org/press
Endorse our March: https://reclaimpridenyc.org/individuals