Tens of thousands celebrate the city's 21st Pride Parade without tourists due to the Corona

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Friday afternoon in Tel Aviv to celebrate the city's 21st Pride Parade. Six giant colorful trucks lead the parade participants which begins at the Lahat Promenade and will pass from Snow Street at the corner of Herbert Samuel Street to Charles Clore Garden. Crowds dance and wave the flag of pride and the flag of the trans community.
Yaniv, a member of the "Pink Front", said: "We were part of the Balfour protest with the Pink, and we continue from here because there is no democracy without equality, whether it is for LGBT people, Arabs, Jews, everyone. True democracy is a democracy with equality for all. That's why we came to pick up and mention that we accept everyone. "
In previous years, the event was attended by many tourists who came from all over the world. This year, due to circumstances that include restrictions and a duty of isolation, the parade retains an "Israeli" character.
The huge party at Charles Clore Park will feature, among others, Nasreen Kadri, Ella Lee Lahav, Eden Hasson, Ninet Tayeb, Noga Erez, Eden Elena, Nofar Salman, Marina Maximilian Blumin, Anna Zack, Ran Danker, Chen Aharoni and Shfita. The event will be hosted by Lucy Job and Tom Baum.
2,000 policemen and a thousand other ushers were deployed from the morning hours along the procession route to secure the celebrants, maintain public order and manage the traffic arrangements. The police's technological deployment included placing more than 300 cameras along the march axis, flying skimmers, using a police helicopter that transmits in real time and placing observers on rooftops and undercover detectives on the ground.
Earlier today, the police arrested a suspect in an attempt to harm the visitors of the Pride Parade in Tel Aviv, who possessed many means of attack.
Police said that detectives from the central unit in the Tel Aviv district arrested the suspect on his way to the gathering place. Among other things, he was seized with an electric shocker, punches, a nunchaku, spikes and metal chains. At the same time, the police detained for investigation three suspects in the operation of skimmers in the area of ​​the parade route.
The event, which is considered the largest since the return to routine after the corona restrictions, will take place between 12:00 noon and 19:00 in the evening and will be secured by about 1,500 police officers and another 1,000 ushers. The Ministry of Health recommended that participants wear a mask.
Police announced, shortly before the march began, that they had arrested a 30-year-old man from Tel Aviv on suspicion of plotting to harm participants. The suspect was arrested after being monitored as part of a targeted activity as part of security preparations. Once apprehended, various means of attack were found in his possession, such as an electric shocker, a nunchaku, chains and more. As part of the police deployment, additional arrests are expected near the parade.
Thousands of police have been deployed since the early hours of the morning along the march route, in the conference area and nearby streets, in order to maintain the participants' security, maintain public order, direct traffic and maintain the proper course of the march, in which tens of thousands of celebrants are expected to participate.
Police contacted opposing officials, who feared they would try to disrupt public order and ordered them not to approach the march route. Police have no specific intelligence on intent to harm the parade. Despite this, the police do not take risks and are prepared with large, visible and covert forces, which will be deployed in the field.
The police said that "the Israel Police will act resolutely against any person who tries to disrupt public order and the proper course of the parade and will act with overt and covert forces to secure the event, maintain order and the safety of the participants."
Also, it was not possible to insert glass bottles into the route of the parade. Marchers will only be allowed to bring in plastic bottles. Vehicle parking will not be allowed on the procession route including the service road. Drivers were asked to evacuate their vehicles. No entry was allowed into the parade grounds with weapons of any kind. In addition, it is forbidden to fly skimmers and aircraft of any kind.