DENVER (KDVR) — Keeping Denver Pride attendees safe this weekend is priority number one for event organizers and Denver police in light of a nationwide alert sent out by the FBI just weeks ago.
The FBI warned Pride events across the country could be terror targets in a public service announcement issued last month. Specifically, the FBI urged the public to be aware of foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters potentially targeting LGBTQIA+ plus related events and venues.
The directive says these groups have in the past promoted anti-gay rhetoric. They also point to this month’s anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and the arrest last June of three alleged ISIS sympathizers for attempting to attack a pride parade in Vienna, Austria, as possible motivators for violence.
“There have been some general warnings about safety but so far in the work that we’ve done with law enforcement we have no evidence of any credible threats,” said Rex Fuller, CEO of The Center on Colfax, organizers of Denver Pride.
“You know, the Club Q shooting was really not that long ago, so it’s something that we do really monitor and take seriously,” he told FOX31.
Denver PrideFest organizers didn’t get into the specifics about their security plan, but they say they’ve been working closely with Denver Police to ensure safety and enjoyment for the tens of thousands of attendees this weekend.
In a statement, a Denver Police Department spokesperson told FOX31:
“DPD will have officers/resources deployed and a plan has been developed to help ensure a safe Pride weekend. As with every event, we encourage people to celebrate safely and to report to police any suspicious or illegal activity.”
Denver Pride attendees who picked up t-shirts Friday for the Denver Pride 5K told FOX31 they’re focused on fun and not fear.
“Unfortunately there’s people out there that want to cause harm and stuff like that, but it’s such a large event and the police are always good about it here,” said Anthony Patterson. “One thing that the community has shown is that nothing’s going to stop us from being able to come together.”
The FBI Denver office told FOX31 they’ve received no intelligence about any specific threats in Colorado or Wyoming.
