Princeton Pride 2022: Thousands Attend First Parade In 2 Years

PRINCETON, NJ — Over 3000 people turned out for the 2022 Princeton Pride Parade on Saturday. People from the community and from across the state participated in the celebration.

The mood was festive, as participants walked through the Witherspoon Jackson neighborhood, celebrating the LGBTQIA community. This was the second in-person parade held in Princeton, organized by Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice (BRCSJ).

Sesame Street's Alan Muraoka served as Parade Grand Marshal.

"I was so honored to have been asked to serve as Grand Marshal of the Princeton Pride Parade and to be there at this extraordinary event with this wonderful community on such a beautiful morning,” Muraoka said in a statement.

“On Sesame Street we try to teach empathy, tolerance, acceptance and love so children learn how to grow to be smarter, stronger, and kinder. And I realize that these are the exact same values that the good folks at the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice are trying to teach as well."

Senators Andrew Zwicker and Linda Greenstein, Mayors Mark Freda of Princeton and Dean Dafis of Maplewood, Poet Michelle Elizabeth Brown, Trans-Activist and BRCSJ Board President Erin Worrell were present during the celebration.

Various local groups and organizations, including Moms Demand Action, Dirty Jersey Roller Derby, Congregation Kehilat Shalom, Desi Rainbow Parents and Allies participated in the parade.

Participants marched to the beats of the Philadelphia Freedom Band. After the parade, they headed to the YMCA great field for a fun afterparty.

In 2019, BRCSJ organized Princeton's first Pride Parade with over 3,000 people in attendance. In 2020 and 2021, the organization held a virtual parade with over 25,000 viewers participating

Here are some snapshots of the day:

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