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| - Thousands took part in Jerusalem's Pride march Thursday under heavy security over fears of extremism and a year after most of the globe's pride events were scrapped over the coronavirus pandemic. Some 3,000 police officers lined the route and observed the march -- which included people wielding rainbow flags, placards and balloons, from atop tall buildings -- blocking off a number of streets as a helicopter circled overhead in the city's centre. Ultra-right wing groups had called for a counter-demonstration and several people were arrested on suspicion of potential threats prior to the celebration's start. Jerusalem has held its annual celebration of LGBTQ+ rights since 2002, often against the backdrop of protests from the ultra-Orthodox population and far-right extremists. On July 30, 2015, teenager Shira Banki was stabbed to death during the parade by ultra-Orthodox Jew Yishai Shlissel, who also wounded six others, and the annual event has been heavily protected by law enforcement since. Wednesday's events began with a ceremony honouring Banki's memory. Israeli police said they arrested a suspect on Wednesday in Jerusalem's centre for "rampaging around and disturbing public order," with reports indicating he had levelled threats of violence related to pride events. He will remain detained until Friday, a police spokeswoman said. Police also said Thursday morning they had arrested two 17-year-old boys for hanging anti-pride posters in downtown Jerusalem overnight. A right-wing advocacy group providing them legal counsel said the posters included slogans like "Dear brothers, this is a perversion". But the throng of Pride revellers hoisting signs with slogans like "Queer Revolution" overwhelmed the city's streets as only a handful of counter-protesters turned out. Marcher Netta Weiss, 26, said Jerusalem's edition of pride was close to the "original meaning" because it's "actually a protest". The first pride march was held in 1970 in New York to mark the anniversary of the city's 1969 Stonewall Riots, a landmark event foundational to the global gay rights movement. "As long as we need so much security, and I need to conceal my flag on the way here because I'm afraid I'm going to get stabbed... it shows how dirty the problem is." Jerusalem's march on Thursday was among the first pride events of 2021, made possible thanks to a swift vaccination campaign. Israel's 2020 celebrations were muted, with its famed gatherings including Tel Aviv's annual parade -- the Middle East's largest -- scrapped to avoid further spreading Covid-19. That move echoed most municipal decisions worldwide to cancel large pride events and shift online. A number of marches are back on the global calendar this year, including New York's, slated for June 27. Guy Gazit, 18, turned out to Thursday's Pride festivities for the first time, saying he "felt guilty saying I support the community but not really doing anything about it, so I wanted to take a more active role." He said his parents voiced concern about his decision to go considering that spectre of violence, but he opted to show up anyway because "we can't just sit by and be passive." "It's a very loving community," said Gazit of those attending Pride, a rainbow flag tied at his neck as Lady Gaga's pro-LGBTQ+ rights anthem "Born This Way" blared. "Our ideas are here to stay." mdo/jjm/dv
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