US consulate urges ‘caution’ at Jerusalem gay pride march
Ahead of Thursday parade, Americans warned that ‘large crowds can be a target for criminals, terrorists’
The American consulate in Jerusalem warned US citizens Tuesday to “exercise caution” if they choose to participate in Thursday’s gay pride parade in the city, a year after the march was beset by deadly violence.
The US warned that the parade, expected to take palce under heavy security, could be targeted.
“The Consulate advises US citizens participating in the march to exercise caution and to be aware that gatherings of large crowds can be a target for criminals, terrorists, and individuals motivated by nationalistic and political beliefs,” a Tuesday statement said.
The US often issues warnings for citizens to avoid tense areas or high profile events.
The statement did not mention a specific threat, but the 15th annual march has been the target of vehement opprobrium from some rabbis and right-wing activists.
At last year’s march, an ultra-Orthodox man carried out a stabbing attack, killing 16-year-old Shira Banki and injuring five others. Thursday’s march is being held in Banki’s honor and her parents and others have urged people to join the parade.
The march, scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m., will run through central Jerusalem, from Liberty Bell Park to Independence Park downtown. It is produced by the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, a non-profit organization for the LGBT community in Jerusalem and surrounding areas.
The attack by Yishai Shlissel in 2015 was the second carried out by the religious zealot on a Jerusalem pride parade. In 2005, he stabbed three people at the march.
On Monday, President Reuven Rivlin railed against “incitement” that he said targeted Israel’s LGBT community.
“Shira was murdered for the right of every woman and man to express themselves and their sexuality freely,” Rivlin said. With her murder, “beauty and innocence were slain on the altar of hatred.
“Incitement against the LGBT community, and all support that that incitement receives, must stop,” he added.
He said that recent anti-gay remarks by prominent rabbis, including the nominee for IDF chief rabbi, “hurt him deeply.”
Earlier this month, Banki’s parents called on the public to turn out for the event.
“After Shira’s murder, there were many voices saying that even though they don’t agree with the way of life LGBTQ community members live, and moreover they resist the concept of the Jerusalem Pride March, they still cannot accept violence as a legitimate demonstration of disagreement,” Ori and Mika Banki wrote in a Facebook post.
“To all of these voices, and everyone who feels and thinks that way — we expect to see you march this year and in the years to come,” they wrote.
