SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 31, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake City Police Department is reminding community members about road closures downtown this weekend for the Utah Pride Festival.
The annual event celebrating Utah’s diverse LGBTQ+ community gets underway at 11 a.m. Saturday and concludes at 7 p.m. Sunday at and around Washington Square.
Several roads near Washington Square and the Salt Lake City-County Building will be fully closed or will have reduced lanes of traffic, including 200 East between 400 South and 500 South.
An estimated 100,000 people are expected to attend the two-day event, and drivers in the area are reminded to take additional precautions.
To avoid additional congestion, community members are encouraged to carpool, use public transportation or a ride-share service.
The Pride Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at 100 S. West Temple, travel east on 100 South, turn south on 400 East, west on 700 South and end at 700 S. 200 East.
“The Salt Lake City Police Department recognizes our responsibility to investigate hate crimes thoroughly and impartially to hold offenders accountable and ensure justice for survivors,” SLCPD said in a news release Friday. “The Salt Lake City Police Department educates its officers and detectives and works with our community to recognize, and condemn, hate crimes, and works to prevent them from occurring in the future.”
The department is a part of the Community Partners Against Hate initiative that brings city, regional and state leaders together to condemn hate. In 2023, the group released a PSA to Stand Up to Hate and Report.
The effects of a hate crime can be devastating and long-lasting for both the individual victim and the larger community, the release says.
If you are the survivor of a hate crime or witness a hate crime, it is important to report it to the appropriate authorities so the case can be investigated, and support and resources offered, police said.
• Call 911: If the crime is in progress or there is an immediate threat to the safety of yourself or others.
• File a police report by calling 801-799-3000 and asking to speak with an officer about filing a hate crime report.
• Request assistance from an SLCPD Victim Advocate. Call 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with a victim advocate or call 801-580-7969 24/7.
For more information about Utah Pride Events, visit utahpride.org/events/utah-pride-events.
