(Rightallegiance.com) – The Philadelphia Pride Parade came to an abrupt halt on Sunday as a group of anti-Israel protesters blocked the route, disrupting the festive event. A video circulating online captured the moment when parade participants were forced to stop, their path obstructed by demonstrators who voiced their opposition to Israel.
The parade, which featured drummers dressed in vibrant rainbow attire, was brought to a standstill as the protesters took to the street. The drummers marched in place, unable to move forward, while a woman at the front of the group was seen engaging in a heated argument with the demonstrators.
The protesters, standing firm in the middle of the street, shouted slogans such as “Palestine will live forever” and “From the sea to the river,” a variation of the controversial chant that calls for the eradication of Israel. Some of the anti-Israel protesters were also clad in rainbow-themed clothing, including a person with a rainbow mohawk, and one held a sign that read, “No pride in genocide.”
As the drummers continued to play, the protest leaders chanted “Free Palestine” through a megaphone. The disruption was organized by Queers 4 Palestine Philly, a progressive group that later posted a statement on Instagram expressing solidarity with those opposing colonialism and genocide globally.
“From Palestine to Sudan to the DRC to Ayiti, we call on queer people of conscience to ignite a global intifada against colonizers and capitalists who seek to use our identities, our beauty, our brilliance as justification for unimaginable violence. We reject all celebrations of pride if they are not grounded in the struggle to end genocide,” read the statement. “We write this anti-pride statement as an honoring of the history of queer militant struggle against imperialism, outlined in the STAR Manifesto: ‘we are; a part of the REVOLUTIONARIES armies fighting against the system. POWER TO THE PEOPLE.’” The statement also included inflammatory calls for “death to America and to Israel” and declared, “QUEER AS IN OFF THE PIGS” and “LONG LIVE THE QUEER INTIFADA.”
Another video showed the confrontation between the anti-Israel demonstrators and police officers attempting to clear the intersection at 11th and Locust Street, a key access point to the city’s “Gayborhood.” As police intervened, the Pride marchers watched the unfolding scene.
The protesters continued their chants, including a call to “Burn Israel to the ground,” while many waved small Pride flags. One demonstrator used a microphone to read a statement urging the mobilization to end Zionist occupation and any systems that enable genocide.