SALISBURY — The city will issue one permit allowing people to protest the gay pride event Saturday in the 100 block of East Fisher Street.
“I have had several calls for protest permits, however, due to logistical concerns, I will only be able to issue one,” Salisbury Police Chief Rory Collins said in an email.
The permit will allow a group demonstration on the sidewalk near the intersection of Main and Fisher streets on the west side of Main Street, opposite from the Pride event, Collins said.
Police will release the name of the group when paperwork is complete.
Collins said he’s issuing the protest permit to honor the “same Constitutional rights to both sides of this controversial issue.”
He said he’s only issuing one permit so police will be able to adequately protect and manage the event.
Salisbury-Rowan PFLAG — Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays — has a permit to use the block from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The actual event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Police Department has received various comments from individuals within and outside of our community about this matter,” Collins said. “The calls were a mixture of some who were in support of the event as well as some who were not.”
The department will have numerous officers working this event to make it as safe as possible, he said.
Read more in Friday’s Post.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.