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Aurora Pride Parade back on after being canceled due to lack of police staffing

By , and FOX 32 Digital Staff
Updated  June 9, 2022 5:53pm CDT
Aurora
FOX 32 Chicago

Aurora Pride Parade back on after being canceled

In the end, the Aurora Pride Parade will go on after all.

AURORA, Ill. - In the end, the Aurora Pride Parade will go on after all.

On Thursday, a hearing was held inside a west suburban courtroom to save the Aurora Pride Parade. At the time, it ultimately failed.

The parade permit was revoked earlier this week when Aurora Police determined they could not provide enough security for the special event.

Aurora Pride took the legal route, an appeal of the revocation, to try to move forward with their plans. A judge, however, denied the appeal.

However, later in the evening — and after parade officials announced they would be filing a federal lawsuit — the city of Aurora released a statement saying they had found enough officers to work the event to keep it safe.

Initially, the city of Aurora said it could not supply the 56 officers required to safely secure the event. The parade is privately run and police must volunteer to work it.

"The City didn’t just double down on our efforts; we tripled down by offering an unprecedented triple-time financial incentive to our officers, and the required number of police officers to secure the parade has been successfully attained," the city said in a statement. "Consequently, a rescission of permit revocation has been submitted to Aurora Pride, and the Aurora Pride Parade can proceed as planned for Sunday, June 12."

The ACLU said in a statement, "We are pleased that Aurora city officials have relented, reinstating the permit to Aurora Pride and allowing the Pride parade to go forward this weekend."

Last month, Aurora Pride announced that law enforcement was invited to participate but should not wear uniforms or carry service revolvers, and they should not drive their police cars. That caused Mayor Richard Irving to drop out of the parade.

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Then, Aurora Police determined the permit should be revoked.

Protesters had gathered outside the courthouse Thursday in support of Aurora Pride.

Aurora's Pride parade steps off at Benton and Broadway at noon on Sunday.

In addition, the city of Aurora said on Friday they will still host its inaugural Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at 11 a.m. at One Aurora Plaza — located at 8 East Galena Boulevard.