N.S. premier says he was told he’d be ‘lightning rod’ if he walked in Pride parade

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is defending his absence from this year’s Halifax Pride parade, saying he didn’t be because constabulary feared he’d beryllium a “lightning rod” for protesters.

The premier had issued a written connection earlier this week indicating he didn’t march Saturday because nan RCMP warned that location were information concerns.

Asked to elaborate aft today’s furniture meetings, Houston said immoderate successful nan crowd mightiness person go upset if nan parade would person been stopped because of his presence.

He didn’t specify which protesters would person forced nan parade to beryllium halted but noted that different parades successful Canada person been interrupted by demonstrations.

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During nan Toronto Pride parade successful June, pro-Palestinian protesters caused nan arena to beryllium trim short erstwhile they blocked nan parade route, pinch immoderate holding banners that publication “No Pride successful genocide,” successful reference to nan warfare successful nan Gaza Strip.

Houston says his determination to skip nan arena doesn’t diminish his support for nan LGBTQ+ community, but he said it would person been irresponsible to be if his beingness added “danger to nan public.”