Police in Leeds have come out in force as the city’s Pride event took place days after streets were left burning by violent riots.
Thousands of people, marshalled by officers from West Yorkshire Police, descended on Leeds on Sunday for the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
The one-day festival, which last year saw 75,000 people attend, featured live music, drag artists and a giant rainbow flag as a parade moved through the city before finishing near the Corn Exchange.
While a large proportion of those taking part were members of the public, members of the emergency services, including the police, firefighters and paramedics, as well as Armed Forces personnel, were also involved.
A police officer waves the Progress Pride flag during the Leeds Pride parade on Sunday
People taking part in Leeds Pride hold multi-coloured balloons that spell out the word ‘Proud’ as they walk through the streets
A parade-goer wearing Army uniform holds a Union Jack which has been filled in with the colours of the rainbow behind them
A firefighter on stilts waves two Pride flags as he takes part in the parade at Leeds Pride yesterday
A man in a wheelchair dressed in a rainbow-coloured suit and hat puts his thumbs up as he moves down the road
Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, laughs as she takes part in the parade with a brass band behind her
A child wearing a Pride-inspired outfit waves an LGBTQ+ flag while sitting on a man’s shoulders
A person wearing a horse mask waves a Pony Pride flag, which represents the pony play fetish community
A man waves the Rubber Pride flag, which is used to denote members of the rubber fetish community
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, along with Leeds North West MP Katie White, were among those present for the event which appeared to take place with few problems.
Terry George, spokesperson for Leeds Pride, told Leeds Live: ‘It’s just incredible to see how far we’ve come since the very first Leeds Pride back in 2006.
‘With more allies than ever before – not to mention the biggest site the festival has ever seen – 2024 is looking likely to be a record-breaker in terms of numbers.’
The event came just three days after parts of the city saw scenes of shocking violence when rioters overturned police vehicles and set fire to a bus.
The disorder, which took place in Harehills less than three miles from the city centre, broke out after four children were removed from a Roma family by police and social services on Thursday afternoon.
Social Services had concern for the children’s welfare after an incident in April when another child, a nine-month-old baby, suffered a head injury. Police are believed to have been called when social workers were met with hostility.
Footage of the children being dragged from the home in Luxor Street by officers was shared on social media, sparking anger and protests in the community.
Fire burns through the remains of a double-decker bus which was set alight by rioters in Harehills on Thursday
Hooligans throwing missiles at the police as debris burns in the street amidst the chaos in Harehills, Leeds
A 2,000 strong mob broke out in Harehills, Leeds after children from a Roma family were taken from their terraced home by police (pictured: a fire ablaze on Thursday)
The spate of violence broke out after children were removed from a house in Harehills (pictured: a fiery blaze)
Firefighters douse a fire, set in the middle of Harehills Lane on Thursday night
That night a 2,000-strong mob ran amok, setting fires in several roads, fuelling them by dumping wood, fridges and wheelie bins on the flames.
The violence, much of which was filmed and live-streamed on TikTok, saw a double decker bus set on fire, while a police car was overturned and battered by rioters.
Video caught the moment a group of police officers appeared to run away from the crowds and firefighters refused to go into the area to deal with the blazes for fear of being attacked.
On Sunday police charged one man with violent disorder and arson in relation to the riots. He will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court later today.
A number of other people have been arrested in connection with the riot.
The protests have continued in recent days as well, with the Roma community in Leeds taking to the streets to peacefully demand the children are returned to their family.
Police officers standing by a still smoking bus on Friday after the night of violence in Harehills
Local people watch the clean up as police patrol Harehills neighbourhood on July 19
Riots in the Hare Hill area of Leeds began Thursday night after social services in the city removed all four children from a family
Locals arguing with police in Harehills, Leeds, on Friday following Thursday’s disturbances
The removal of the children from a home in Harehills has sparked concerns about underlying prejudice against Roma communities.
The ethnic minority group, who are widely subjected to discrimination and poverty across Europe, make up some 5,000 people in the area.
Video footage posted on social media shows hundreds of people singing and chanting on the streets in a seemingly peaceful demonstration on Saturday.
The singing was made louder using microphones as some members of the group held up signs reading ‘please give back children’.
An increased police presence remains in place in the area and will do so over the coming days.
The family, who are members of the Romani community, have committed to going on a hunger strike until their children are returned to them.
Stefania Banu, a local community leader, speaking to the the Daily Mirror said: ‘The mother and father are refusing to eat until they get their children back. We are fully supporting them.
‘We believe it was an injustice that can be rectified by the authorities if they revise the case. Which they have promised to do.’