ACTION 8 UPDATE: Federal court orders city of Prattville to include “Prattville Pride” in Christmas parade and provide extra security
ACTION 8 UPDATE: A federal judge has ordered the city of Prattville to allow a group called “Prattville Pride” to be included in the city’s annual Christmas parade and to provide the group with the extra security it has requested.
That order came from U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. this afternoon. The parade is tonight.
As Action 8 News has reported, the group, which promotes LBGTQ issues, inclusion and diversity, was originally allowed to be in the parade.
The group had emailed Prattville police at 12:53AM yesterday outlining concerns over being safe at the parade. The email said there had been threats made against Prattville Pride and its parade float. It asked for two police officers to walk near the crowd and alongside the float.
Later yesterday, Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie, Jr., released a statement saying that Prattville Pride would be removed from the parade.
His statement said in part:
“The City will not put the rights of parade participants ahead of the safety of its citizens. Because of the safety concerns for Prattville Pride, other parade participants, as well as parade bystanders, the City has made the decision to remove Prattville Pride from the Christmas parade.
“This decision was made with careful thought and consideration while balancing the rights of parade participants against the overall safety of everyone involved at the parade. The City will always respect freedoms and rights of expression. However, as in this instance, it must put the overall safety of its citizens first.”
That prompted Prattville Pride to file a federal lawsuit.
READ: Prattville Pride Lawsuit against city of Prattville
The order today represents a temporary restraining order against the city as well as a preliminary injunction. The order notes that Prattville Pride had taken all of the necessary steps to be in the parade and had been granted approval to take part until “certain members of the public made general complaints…because of the nature of the organization.”
