The Bay Area Jewish community marched in the annual San Francisco Pride Parade on a sunny Sunday, as hundreds of thousands of people lined Market Street for the festivities.
More than 300 people joined the main Jewish contingent, marching with a Jewish-themed pink and purple float, according to the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area. The vibrant float bore the JCRC’s logo and proclaimed “Proud and Jewish” in large block letters. A giant purple triangle and pink heart formed a Star of David at the float’s center.
Members of the Jewish community wore pink boas, danced and waved at the crowd from the float as it rolled down Market Street.
The JCC of San Francisco, JCRC and the Jewish LGBTQ group Keshet cosponsored the parade contingent, along with two dozen synagogues and Jewish groups. At the same time, JFCS/East Bay marched with immigrant and refugee-serving organizations highlighting their work to resettle LGBTQ refugees, and San Francisco’s Congregation Sha’ar Zahav marched with a multifaith group of organizations called United in Spirit.
A “Resistance” contingent that included pro-Palestinian marchers walked toward the front of the parade. And a competing rally on Sunday afternoon protesting links between the S.F. Pride Parade and Israel drew more than 1,000 people, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It was called “No Pride in Genocide” and was organized to call attention to “politicians and groups” participating in the Pride Parade who support Israel, organizers said in a press release, including state Sen. Scott Wiener and JCRC.
Conflict flared publicly in early June after questions circulated online about whether an “Israeli float” would be part of the parade. SF Pride released a statement June 4 explaining that there would be “no Israeli float” and then a subsequent statement two days later to clarify its position and address Jewish community concerns.
Hundreds of police officers from various agencies were visible at the Pride Parade, according to local media. Though the JCRC had anticipated possible confrontations between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israel or Jewish participants, no such disturbances were reported.