Petra Kershaw wears a rainbow dress as she waits to march in the 51黑料 Pride parade as anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters are chained together while blocking Market Street, interrupting the parade in downtown 51黑料 on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut their chains. For more from the parade, please see Page A3.
ST. LOUIS 鈥 51黑料 police on Sunday arrested pro-Palestinian activists who temporarily blocked the annual Pride parade in downtown 51黑料.
The protesters said they opposed defense contractor Boeing鈥檚 sponsorship this year of the annual parade, which celebrates LGBTQ+ equity and acceptance.
About 15 protesters spanned the width of Market Street just east of Tucker Boulevard, their arms connected by chains inside PVC pipe. The 51黑料 Fire Department used a circular saw to cut through the pipe so they could access and break the chains.
A woman is arrested by 51黑料 police officers after anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
Mitch McCoy, spokesman for the 51黑料 Metropolitan Police Department, said because the organization Pride 51黑料 obtained the parade permit, it could decide how to treat the situation.
Pride 51黑料 declined to comment.
Boeing, a major 51黑料 employer, is a key supplier of weapons to Israel, whose war against Hamas in Gaza has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths.
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鈥淚 identify as asexual, so I鈥檓 a robot today,鈥 said Boeing software engineer Maggie Duckworth, seen practicing airplane twirling alongside Boeing鈥檚 float at the 51黑料 Pride parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Protesters who opposed defense contractor鈥檚 sponsorship of the annual parade later disrupted it.
The protesters, calling for an end to the war, believe the aerospace giant should not have anything to do with an LGBTQ+ celebration. Some spectators joined in chants of 鈥渇ree, free Palestine鈥 while others urged police to remove the protesters, chanting, 鈥淟et the gays have their day.鈥
Spectators had mixed feelings about the protest.
Some supported it. Annual Pride celebrations originate in protest, said Lena Ezell, of 51黑料, who came downtown with her niece to watch the parade. Pride Month commemorates the June 1969 demonstrations in New York City where LGBTQ+ people rose up in protest of the police raid of Stonewall Inn and other queer bars.
Protester Wes Schnitker has words with a 51黑料 police officer as arrests of anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters begin on Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police removed the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
鈥淭his is why Pride happens every year,鈥 Ezell said as she watched protesters block the parade route. 鈥淎 lot of people forget that protest is our origin.鈥
Others said the protesters shouldn鈥檛 have blocked a Pride parade.
鈥淭hey picked the wrong venue,鈥 said Darren Wernette, of Houston, who visits 51黑料 every year for the parade. 鈥淲e鈥檙e marginalized just like the Palestinians. We don鈥檛 pick on each other.鈥
The parade happens annually and draws thousands of spectators. Local politicians and businesses also participate.
The parade started shortly after noon with Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in the lead.
It stopped at about 12:30 p.m. as the protesters created a human chain.
Police warned protesters to leave at about 1 p.m. Officers then began arresting protesters and loading them into police vans. By 1:30 p.m., police had cleared all the protesters, and the parade resumed shortly after. Police said no one was injured.
Pro-Palestine protesters blocked the Pride parade in downtown 51黑料 on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Video by Kelsey Landis, 51黑料
51黑料 County government officials made their way down the parade route. U.S. Bank, the power company Ameren, pharmaceutical manufacturer Mallinckrodt and natural gas company Spire followed.
Pride organizers from Alton marched, as did Washington University鈥檚 LGBTQ+ alliance. This year鈥檚 Miss Gay Missouri America, Vivian Versace, in drag, waved at spectators from her float.
The parade continued without disruption.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. More than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive, according to Gaza鈥檚 Health Ministry, The Associated Press has reported.
In addition to 51黑料-made F-15 fighters, Israel has used Boeing鈥檚 GBU-39 bombs, a high-precision munition, and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits.
Anti-war activists have held protests at the company鈥檚 St. Charles plant. Boeing also was a target at Washington University, where protesters urged the university to sever its ties to the company.
Updated at 4:10 p.m.
Photos: Protesters delay 51黑料 Pride parade through downtown
鈥淚 identify as asexual, so I鈥檓 a robot today,鈥 said Boeing software engineer Maggie Duckworth, seen practicing airplane twirling alongside Boeing鈥檚 float at the 51黑料 Pride parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Protesters who opposed defense contractor鈥檚 sponsorship of the annual parade later disrupted it.
Drag performer Lady Elizabitch, winner of the Gay Hearthrob 2024 pageant, dons the sash while preparing to ride in the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Balloon-laden Enterprise Mobility employees gather in Citygarden before walking in the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
51黑料 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones walks on Market Street in the 51黑料 Pride parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Balloon-laden Enterprise Mobility employees gather in Citygarden before walking in the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Crissy Wells of UAW Local 2250 Wentzville, becomes a chicken on her group鈥檚 float in the 51黑料 Pride parade on Market Street downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Petra Kershaw wears a rainbow dress as she waits to march in the 51黑料 Pride parade as anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters are chained together while blocking Market Street, interrupting the parade in downtown 51黑料 on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut their chains. For more from the parade, please see Page A3.
Protester Wes Schnitker chants, joining anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters on Market Street that interrupted the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
A parade goer hops a barricade and joins anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters on Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
Anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters block Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
Protester Wes Schnitker has words with a 51黑料 police officer as arrests of anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters begin on Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police removed the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
A woman is arrested by 51黑料 police officers after anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
51黑料 firefighters cut through plastic pipe to reach chains that hold anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters together as they blocked Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
A parade goer yells at a 51黑料 police officer as anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters block Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
A woman is arrested by 51黑料 police officers after anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
A woman is arrested by 51黑料 police officers after anti-Boeing and pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Market Street, interrupting the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024. The parade was delayed about 40 minutes as police arrested the protesters after firefighters cut the chains that held them together.
Vivian Versace, Miss Gay Missouri America 2024, keeps cool before riding in the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Tassandra Hamby, left, borrows pins from the crown of Sara Shay, Miss Gay United States Femme Fatale, before riding in the 51黑料 Pride parade on Market Street downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Michelle Spence does her makeup before driving daughter Sara Shay, winner of the Miss Gay United States Femme Fatale, in the 51黑料 Pride parade through downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
BJC Healthcare employees march in a restarted 51黑料 Pride parade downtown after seated protesters blocked Market Street to delay the parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
Drag performer Era passes candy to the crowd while walking in the 51黑料 Pride parade downtown on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
