East Providence celebrates start of Pride

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Local officials and the community joined together Saturday to kick off Pride with the city’s annual parade.

“Some people say, ‘Why do we still have these celebrations?,'” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The reality is, even in today’s day and age, with what you would think would be an enlightened people, in a country where you think we’d have the ability to embrace everyone for who they are, you see, right here in East Providence and in social media posts, you see the bigots and people who are intolerant.”

A Pride Flag raising ceremony was also held at city hall before the parade.