In response to concerns about public safety, the Belmont Rocks celebration is moving to Montrose beach, ending a decades-long tradition in the area.
The day-long event, held on Pride Sunday and predominantly attended by Blacks and Latinos, is a gay institution for many in the community and draws thousands of people from around the country.
But despite a history of law and order, organizer Michael O'Connor said, area officials have decided the event is a public safety hazard and has to go.
"It's such a strain on the whole neighborhood to have it all in the same area," said Ald. Bernie Hansen, whose district includes the Pride parade and Belmont Rocks. "It's just too much of a drain." Hansen said that no events will be allowed at the Belmont harbor area on Sunday, and that a command post will be set up notifying people that the Rocks event has been moved.
While O'Connor acknowledges that the new space is bigger and better suited to the event's needs, he doesn't feel that a command post the day of the event is enough. He is calling on Hansen and the police department to launch an advertising campaign to get the word out. "We will move," O'Connor said. "For us the issue there is a fun-filled day on the lakefront celebrating our cultural diversity."
"We don't advertise (now), because we don't have to," he added.
O'Connor said Rocks organizers had already secured a Park District permit for the Belmont area when officials told them to move. He said the event will go on as planned unless the community indicates it wants otherwise.
"It's not at Belmont unless the community wants to fight," he said.
— Karen Hawkins
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