Item 4 - Draft Recommendation on Public Safety at Austin Pride Parade and Pride Events — original pdf

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COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Recommendation on Public Safety at Austin Pride Parade and Pride Events WHEREAS the City of Austin has formally recognized Pride month with an official proclamation “reaffirming the City’s commitment to inclusivity, equity, and allyship”; and WHEREAS Pride month and surrounding celebrations have been prominent to Austin’s culture since its first Pride week in 1982; and WHEREAS members of the LGBTQIA+ community continue to be targets of hate incidents, violent threats, and extremist legislation; and WHEREAS Pride events in Austin have been canceled this year due to bomb and death threats; and WHEREAS Pride events in Austin have been canceled this year due to bomb and death threats, such as the cancellation of the "Legendary Drag Brunch and Market" due to a bomb threat; and WHEREAS Texas has seen a significant increase in reported anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, with Austin experiencing a rise from 12 incidents in 2019 to 51 in 2023; and WHEREAS these threats limit Austin’s ability to be the most livable city in the country; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Austin’s Human Rights Commission that the Austin City Council calls upon relevant public safety departments to implement additional safety measures for the August 2024 Pride Parade and subsequent events. These measures should include, but not be limited to: ● Adequate street closures for the Austin Pride Parade to eliminate vehicle traffic in the immediate area; ● Deployment of both uniformed and plainclothes officers in surrounding areas; ● Briefing local FBI authorities on recent bomb threats and other hate crimes related to the LGBTQIA+ community to monitor and address any active threats. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Austin City Council utilizes the resources of the We All Belong campaign to increase public awareness of the purpose and significance of Pride and all related events, including the August Pride Parade. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)