Скачать или смотреть Crowds join South African Pride despite threat

(29 Oct 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sandton, Johannesburg - 29 October 2022
1. Various of pride march
2. Various of participants chanting
3. Woman holding a placard while blowing bubbles
4. Wide of pride march
5. Pride event organizer Kay Ally leading pride march in Sandton
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Kay Alley, Pride organiser
"Once the security alert broke, it went viral that the attack was immediately assumed to have been directed at pride, which wasn't the case because we would never, ever contacted directly with any threat. We always felt that we were not potentially in danger. We needed to be secure. And I mean, I think throughout the march and what you are experiencing here, we did manage to put quite a lot of security procedures in place. And it was a good march, but I think it was more a defiant march than anything else."
7. Various of participant dressed as Elvis Presley at a photo booth
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Salvius, Pride participant:
"At the end of the day, we cannot live out of fear.  We cannot live out of fear. We did everything we could - safety precautions and we show up and we celebrate. And we we love those, and you know what? Who knows? You never know who's the person that's having a real bad day? But just by walking by, smiling, giving them a dance, saying, I love you, that could change the course of history."
9. Participant dressed in Zulu outfit
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Lethuxolo Shange, Pride participant:
"I'm still here, I'm still going to enjoy with my people, at least I'll die looking pretty. That's how I'm taking it. But it is scary, it is very scary - as a person who's a provider for my family, it's very, very scary. And we should definitely not be taking this lightly, but also we should show that we are here to fight."
11. Various of pride march participants cheering
12. Wide of pride march participants returning from the march
STORYLINE:
More than 3,000 people on Saturday took part in the first Pride march in South Africa since the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and defying a U.S. warning of a possible terror attack in the area.
The U.S. government this week warned of a possible attack in the Sandton part of Johannesburg, where the march took place.
The South African government expressed concern that the U.S. had not shared enough information to give credibility to the alleged threat. Police said all safety measures had been taken to ensure safety in the area.
Organisers on Saturday said the march would not be derailed by any form of threat.
Earlier in the week, the organisation said the threat made it more important to have the march.
Many lined joined the march in Sandton to raise awareness of the injustices and inequality faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Those at the event told The Associated Press that the community faced threats to their lives on a daily basis and the recent threats were no different.
“It was a good march, but I think it was more a defiant march than anything else,” said Kay Ally, the chair of Johannesburg PRIDE.
Earlier in the week, the organization had said the threat made it more important to have the march.
"Our pride began as a defiant campaign, and we will not be subjected to any threats based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is precisely why we take to the streets and march, we must assert our right to exist once more," the organizers said in a statement.
While South Africa is seen as one of the more progressive African countries on gender equality issues, concerns remain about the discrimination many continue to face in the country.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...