People arrested as cops clash with Pride party-goers in Washington Square Park

Several people have been arrested in New York’s Washington Square Park following Pride celebrations in the area.

NYPD officers are said to have used pepper spray on Pride attendees who were in the Greenwich Village park early on Sunday evening. 

Police were seen surrounding the park dressed in riot gear including shields and helmets. Some had their batons drawn ready for an encounter.

A chain of officers also filled the perimeter streets on police bikes. 

There were at least three confirmed arrests.  

People gather in Washington Square Park for the 3rd annual Queer Liberation March in New York on Sunday. Several people were later arrested following the Pride celebrations

Tensions were already high between the NYPD and those celebrating Pride after organizers of New York City’s event decided to ban LGBTQ police officers from marching in uniform. 

The march commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising, sparked by a police raid on a gay bar and tensions between law enforcement and some parts of the LGBTQ community still exist, a half century later. The ban is set to last until at least 2025.

Last year, the NYPD attacked marchers or partiers twice during Pride weekend. 

It’s not clear what the trigger point was for Sunday’s arrests to be made, however over the last month the park has often been the scene of anti-social behavior with everything from illegal boxing matches, to raves and drug taking occurring within the vicinity. 

Multiple users on Twitter explained the sudden presence of NYPD officers around the park