Dupont Circle Park fencing comes down ahead of WorldPride weekend events

Shortly before WorldPride festivities kicked off in D C on Saturday fencing around Dupont Circle Park was being removed following a week of flip-flopping by District authorities and backlash from area members In a message posted on X D C Council member Zachary Parker stated the gates and fencing had been taken down This is a win for all of us especially for the LGBTQ population and a powerful reminder of what speaking truth to power can accomplish Parker explained Originally the closure was set to run until p m Sunday The closure which went into effect at p m Thursday came at the request of the U S Park Police Administrators added fencing around the park on Friday Park Police submitted its closure request on Wednesday one day after D C Police Chief Pamela Smith rescinded her initial April call for the park to be fully closed and cordoned off with anti-scale fencing through Monday Smith pulled her request after backlash from group members and politicians WTOP has reached out to the U S Park Police for comment This story is progressing Stay with WTOP for the latest WTOP s Gaby Arancibia also contributed to this description Source