Link: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/protesters-block-pride-parade-through-31905453
Credit: Bethany Gavaghan, Under 35s writer, and Conor Gogarty, Investigations editor, for Wales Online
Archive: https://archive.ph/tfO24
Cymru Queers for Palestine blocks Pride Cymru march through Cardiff (Image: Richard Swingler)
A pro-Palestine demonstration brought a parade celebrating LGBT+ culture to a standstill in the centre of Cardiff. The Pride Cymru march started outside the Angel Hotel on Castle Street but was halted outside Cardiff Castle shortly before 11.30am on Saturday.
They were halted by a group called Cymru Queers for Palestine, protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza. Around 50 protesters were blocking the road, some lying down in front of Cardiff Castle and others holding a banner that reads: "Profiting from genocide."
The demonstration is over an alleged sponsorship link to companies including Amazon, which provides cloud services to the Israeli military and government; ITV, which the group feels has not platformed enough "pro-Palestine voices"; and accounting firm Deloitte, which attracted controversy in 2023 when its Israeli division expressed “support for our fellow citizens on the home front and those on the front lines”.
Hannah, from Cymru Queers for Palestine, told WalesOnline: "We contacted Pride, met with them and they ignored us. So we will not stop and we will not rest until we say that Pride Cymru has no ties to the Israeli war machine."
After around 20 minutes the parade changed its planned route and continued along St Mary Street. One crowd member, Cal, said Pride "has always been a protest" and that those who support Palestine and fight "the rods of capitalism" are part of "one struggle".
Hundreds took part in the parade
A Pride spokesperson said: "Today’s Pride Cymru parade was disrupted by a protest by a small protest group outside the Castle. Despite our best efforts to engage with the group ahead of and during the event, the situation on the ground made it impossible to proceed with the original parade route as planned. An alternative route was quickly put in place, working in partnership with Cardiff Council and the Police, helping the rest of the parade to run smoothly.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience today while this was coordinated and despite the brief delay, the atmosphere remained positive. Pride is a space for protest, celebration, and solidarity. We remain committed to creating a Pride that reflects the diversity and voices of our entire community."
This year, in the 40th year of Pride events in Cardiff, the march was led by some of those who were there in 1985 joined by members of the trans community, protesting a retrenchment of their rights following the recent Supreme Court decision.
The parade started outside the Angel Hotel and after the delay it wound its way through the city centre.
Credit: Bethany Gavaghan, Under 35s writer, and Conor Gogarty, Investigations editor, for Wales Online
Archive: https://archive.ph/tfO24
Cymru Queers for Palestine blocks Pride Cymru march through Cardiff (Image: Richard Swingler)
A pro-Palestine demonstration brought a parade celebrating LGBT+ culture to a standstill in the centre of Cardiff. The Pride Cymru march started outside the Angel Hotel on Castle Street but was halted outside Cardiff Castle shortly before 11.30am on Saturday.
They were halted by a group called Cymru Queers for Palestine, protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza. Around 50 protesters were blocking the road, some lying down in front of Cardiff Castle and others holding a banner that reads: "Profiting from genocide."
The demonstration is over an alleged sponsorship link to companies including Amazon, which provides cloud services to the Israeli military and government; ITV, which the group feels has not platformed enough "pro-Palestine voices"; and accounting firm Deloitte, which attracted controversy in 2023 when its Israeli division expressed “support for our fellow citizens on the home front and those on the front lines”.
Hannah, from Cymru Queers for Palestine, told WalesOnline: "We contacted Pride, met with them and they ignored us. So we will not stop and we will not rest until we say that Pride Cymru has no ties to the Israeli war machine."
After around 20 minutes the parade changed its planned route and continued along St Mary Street. One crowd member, Cal, said Pride "has always been a protest" and that those who support Palestine and fight "the rods of capitalism" are part of "one struggle".
Hundreds took part in the parade
A Pride spokesperson said: "Today’s Pride Cymru parade was disrupted by a protest by a small protest group outside the Castle. Despite our best efforts to engage with the group ahead of and during the event, the situation on the ground made it impossible to proceed with the original parade route as planned. An alternative route was quickly put in place, working in partnership with Cardiff Council and the Police, helping the rest of the parade to run smoothly.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience today while this was coordinated and despite the brief delay, the atmosphere remained positive. Pride is a space for protest, celebration, and solidarity. We remain committed to creating a Pride that reflects the diversity and voices of our entire community."
This year, in the 40th year of Pride events in Cardiff, the march was led by some of those who were there in 1985 joined by members of the trans community, protesting a retrenchment of their rights following the recent Supreme Court decision.
The parade started outside the Angel Hotel and after the delay it wound its way through the city centre.
