Single Display Of Hate Couldn't Quash St. Pete Pride Enthusiasm

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – On a weekend marked by diversity, acceptance and healing in the wake of the two-year anniversary of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre, those attending the St. Peter Pride Parade were shocked to see a group of black hooded men on Central Avenue waving a Nazi flag and spouting hate.

St. Petersburg Police received a several phone calls from concerned Pride participants about the incident but said it was an exception in a weekend marked by peaceful celebration.

The incident occurred just after 12:30 a.m.. Sunday, June 24, on Central Avenue between 11th Street and 13th Street North. Saturday night's parade and fireworks had ended, and the crowd had begun to disperse when the hooded men began harassing some parade-goers. Some off-duty police officers reportedly walked over to the party crashers and told them to leave. The men complied.

St. Petersburg Police Lt. Markus Hughes said there wasn't much more the police could do. While they may have been out of line, the men in the pickup truck had committed no crime.

"Is it hateful speech? Definitely," he said. "But hateful speech is also protected by the amendment."

Raising a rainbow flag over city hall during the opening ceremony for Florida’s largest LGBT parade, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman vowed it would be a safe, inclusive weekend.

Extra St. Pete Police officers and Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies were on hand throughout the weekend to help Kriseman keep his promise.

And, despite crowds of more than 200,000 people, there wasn’t a single arrest.

"The 16th annual St. Pete Pride was a success," said Kriseman.

Images via St. Pete Pride