Pride in London 2023: Thousands march from Hyde Park as part of capital’s LGBT parade as Just Stop Oil attempt to disrupt event | UK News

Thousands of people have marched on London as part of the city’s Pride parade.

The march got under way from noon from Hyde Park with more than 30,000 people expected to take part in the parade itself.

The event marked 51 years since the first march for LGBTQ+ rights through the capital.

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Pride in London 2023 parade

Metropolitan Police confirmed they made seven arrests for public nuisance after a “small number of protesters” sat down in the road at Piccadilly junction with Down Street 1.30pm.

The arrests were made at around 1.45pm with the road cleared within minutes to allow the parade to continue, the force said.

Just Stop Oil had warned of potential disruption ahead of the march as it called on Pride in London not to accept sponsorship money from “high-polluting industries”.

LGBT+ members of the group also called for floats from those organisations to be banned and said organisers should condemn new oil, gas and coal.

Pride in London called for the parade to get the “respect and focus it deserves”.

Earlier, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told Sky News any protest should be “peaceful, safe and lawful”.

“Actually, Pride in London, the 600 groups marching in the parade or the 35,000 people on the parade themselves are protesting at the fact that things aren’t perfect in London,” he said.

“Particularly when it comes to the trans community who face stigmatisation, demonisation and have been weaponised in a culture war.

“So the irony where people on a protest could have protests against them isn’t lost on members of this wonderful community.”

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In a statement, Just Stop Oil said partnerships with “toxic” industries “embarrass the LGBTQ+ community”.

“If London Pride fails to take these basic steps necessary to protect our community, we will have to consider potential escalations which may result in the disruption of Pride,” they said,

“We will also call for the entire LGBTQ+ community to join us in protest and boycott – for the safety of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.”

A spokesperson for Pride in London said that its focus this year was was ensuring the trans community know they “#NeverMarchAlone”.

“We call on all individuals, groups and organisations to give this space the respect and focus it deserves in an increasingly hostile and unsafe world,” they added.