Springfield Pride headliner Dawn Richard told ‘Diddy' jurors of threats, violence, abuse
SPRINGFIELD — Pop and R&B singer Dawn Richard headlines the Springfield Pride Parade this weekend, just three weeks after taking center stage at the federal sex trafficking trial of one-time mentor Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
'It's a celebration of Pride, and she's wonderful,' B.J. Coleman, public relations director for Springfield Pride, said Friday.
Local Pride organizers booked Richard well before she was called by federal prosecutors to testify against Combs at his Manhattan trial, and organizers instead are focusing on Richard's support for the LGBTQ community.
'She's an awesome performer,' Coleman said. 'We just want to celebrate.'
Richard was scheduled to play the fundraising ball on Friday. On Saturday, Richard is expected to join thousands for the parade on State Street, followed by a Pride block party on Stearns Square.
Last month, Richard told jurors at Combs' trial that the hip-hop mogul threatened to kill her if she told anyone she saw him physically abusing his longtime girlfriend.
Richard, according to The Associated Press, said Combs made the threat one day after she witnessed Combs punch, kick and swing at girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura with a skillet.
Richard said he told her and another woman who saw the attack that 'we could go missing' if they didn't stay quiet.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitzi Steiner asked Richard what she took 'we could go missing' to mean.
'That we could die,' Richard said, adding she was shocked, because all of this happened just as she was beginning to record with Diddy.
She performed in two of Combs' more successful recent acts: girl group Danity Kane and trio Diddy — Dirty Money. Diddy — Dirty Money was comprised of Richard and Kalenna Harper with Combs.
But Richard, a New Orleans native, sued Combs last year, alleging threats and groping.
Richard testified over two days, detailing the abuse she saw Ventura suffer at the hands of Combs.
'I saw him kick her, punch her in the stomach,' the AP quoted Richard as saying.
And the abuse came every time Ventura spoke up for herself or, in Richard's words, 'had an opinion.'
Combs' lawyers say prosecutors can prove domestic violence but not the federal crimes he's charged with.
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
The 3rd annual Springfield Pride Parade took place on Saturday, June 1. Photo by Heather Rush
Read the original article on MassLive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Diddy trial week 4 recap: Claims of physical abuse, bribery and coercion
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' federal sex trafficking trial wrapped its fourth week on Friday with even more bombshell claims about the embattled music mogul, including that he dangled a woman off a 17th-floor balcony and coerced another into participating in sex parties. Combs, 55, has been behind bars at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in September. He's accused of creating a drug-fueled empire of sexual abuse and violence that went unchecked for years, thanks to his fame, influence and a well-paid network tasked with covering up his alleged crimes. Now four weeks in, the legal proceedings have included testimony from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, fellow rapper Kid Cudi, and former staffers and flings — including one woman who claimed she was forced for years to participate in Diddy's infamous 'freak-offs.' Here's a recap of what happened during the fourth week of trial: Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Ventura who goes by the nickname 'Bana,' recalled for the court a 2016 incident when Diddy allegedly dangled her over a balcony at Ventura's high-rise apartment in Los Angeles. The women had been hanging out when the rapper burst through the door and Bongolan fled to the balcony, she said. She described how Diddy approached her from behind, grabbed her from beneath her armpits and held her over the ledge, 17 stories from the ground. After nearly 20 seconds over the rail, she was then hurled into balcony furniture. 'You know what the f–k you did,' she recalled Combs saying. But to this day, she said she still doesn't know why the rapper flew into a rage. The encounter left her with several injuries, which she photographed the next day. The images were presented to the jury and showed Bongolan severely bruised with bandages on her arms and back. Prosecutors also provided jurors with a text, allegedly sent by Ventura to Combs' former staffer Kristina Khorram following the incident. She wrote that Combs 'went at Bana, choked her, dangled her feet off the balcony. This is crazy. I have to get away.' Combs has denied these allegations. Security guard Eddy Garcia testified that Combs offered him $100,000 to hide surveillance video that shows him violently beating Ventura in a hotel hallway back in 2016. The clip — leaked in part by CNN last year and played in full for the jury toward the beginning of the trial — shows the rapper, clad in just a towel around his waist, chasing Ventura down the hallway, grabbing her by the neck and throwing her to floor. The video shows him kicking her as she lies motionless on the ground, before eventually taking hold of her sweatshirt and dragging her back toward their room. Ventura previously testified the beating took place when she attempted to sneak out of hotel after Combs punched her in the face during one of his freak-offs. Garcia, then 24 years old, said he began his shift hours after the 'domestic dispute' erupted, but eventually fielded a phone call from Khorram, who asked him about any security footage. 'Off the record, it's bad,' he recalled telling her. Diddy later allegedly told the security guard he had too much to drink and 'if this got out, it would ruin him,' Garcia said. During emotional testimony spanning several days, a woman using the pseudonym 'Jane' recalled the debilitating pressure she felt to participate in Diddy's freak-offs, and how the marathon sex sessions turned their relationship into something she feared. She said she met Combs in November 2020 and fell 'head over heels' shortly after they started dating two months later. As a couple, they enjoyed elaborate outings and frequent trips, which often involved drugs that made her feel 'relaxed, euphoric, sexual,' she said. Prior to that, she'd only taken drugs twice before. Jane told jurors things started to change after Diddy suggested she have sex with a male escort in front of him. Despite feeling uncomfortable with the idea, she said she agreed not realizing he was being serious — until he informed her shortly later 'there's somebody coming.' That first freak-off opened 'a Pandora's box in the relationship,' Jane said, telling the court she had no idea at the time it would become a frequent event. Much like Ventura, she testified that subsequent encounters involved her being plied with drugs to keep her awake and recorded without her consent. Jane said she went along with the freak-offs for a while, attempting to gain some control by choosing which escorts she slept with. By September 2023, she admitted to Diddy in a lengthy text that the 'dark' encounters made her feel 'disgusted' with herself, but she was afraid to 'lose the roof over my head.' Jane, a young single mom, cried throughout her testimony. She said she felt 'obligated to perform' in the freak-offs, partly because she believed Diddy loved her and partly because he often threatened to cut her off if she didn't do what he said. At the time, Diddy had been paying her rent. Jane remained with the rapper up until his arrest. Judge Arun Subramanian on Friday once again warned Diddy about interacting with and trying to influence the jury, threatening to give him the boot if he continued to ignore the directive. 'I saw your client looking at the jury and nodding vigorously,' said the judge, who called Diddy's behavior 'absolutely unacceptable.' 'If it happens again, if it happens even once, I will hear an application from the government to give a curative instruction to the jury, which you do not want,' Subramanian continued. 'Or I will consider taking further measures, which could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom.' Combs' lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, assured the judge it would not happen again. The scolding came after Combs seemingly nodded at jurors during Bongolan's testimony about the balcony incident. Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Watch: ‘Plasma drops' falling toward the sun's surface
New tech reveals never-before-seen details in solar corona A breakthrough in adaptive optics technology captured the clearest images to date of the sun's corona. The incredible resolution of the new images could provide new insights on some of the mysteries surrounding our star. 01:14 - Source: CNN Former 'Diddy' girlfriend reveals 'love contract' A former romantic partner for Sean 'Diddy' Combs using the pseudonym 'Jane' described feeling financially coerced and revealed Combs is still paying for her rent, even as she testified against him at trial. Prosecutors hope the testimony by 'Jane' will drive home charges that include sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. 01:30 - Source: CNN Student works shift after graduation. Customer raises $200k High school senior Mykale Baker went to his high school graduation, and after, decided to get some food for his family at Burger King, which is where he works. After seeing how short staffed they were, he decided to help out the team. Maria Mendoza saw him at work and started a GoFundMe page for him, which has raised almost $200 thousand dollars towards his college fund. 01:35 - Source: CNN Fans wait for hours to buy Nintendo Switch 2 Eager gaming fans lined up for hours to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 after it hit shelves around the world on June 5. It's Nintendo's first major console launch since the original Switch arrived roughly eight years ago. 00:25 - Source: CNN Greta Thunberg sails to Gaza Greta Thunberg has set sail with eleven other activists to Gaza. The activist group they're part of, The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, is attempting to bring aid and raise international awareness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the territory. 00:59 - Source: CNN Judge threatens to remove 'Diddy' from his own trial US District Judge Arun Subramanian warned the defense team for Sean 'Diddy' Combs that he will be removed from the New York City court room where he is on trial facing charges that include racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'Good Night, and Good Luck's' scenic designer discusses how he created George Clooney's Broadway newsroom Scenic Designer Scott Pask recreated the CBS newsroom and Edward R. Murrow's set for "Good Night, and Good Luck," the play that brings the 1950s McCarthy-era drama to life. Pask tells CNN why architectural accuracy is important for a play that's about 'speaking truth to power.' Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 02:13 - Source: CNN Police shut down All-American Rejects backyard gig in college town The All-American Rejects played a backyard gig in Columbia, Missouri, as part of their House Party Tour protesting against expensive arena shows. Police eventually shut it down, but not before letting the band play one final song. 01:05 - Source: CNN Bringing 1950s style to Broadway Costume Designer Brenda Abbandandolo mixed vintage, thrifted clothing with precise recreations of 1950s style to bring the Broadway play Good Night, and Good Luck to life. She tells CNN how she approached dressing George Clooney and Ilana Glazer with historic authenticity. Tune in to CNN on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm to watch the play broadcast live from Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre. 01:53 - Source: CNN Cassie Ventura's friend testifies Diddy held her over a balcony Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Cassie Ventura who goes by Bana, testified today about an incident with Sean 'Diddy' Combs in 2016 when she said that she was 'held over a 17-story balcony' by the music mogul. CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister reports. 01:48 - Source: CNN How fish skin saved this child's life Eliana DeVos received a dressing made with fish skin to help her recover from a serious bacterial infection that left an open wound on her neck. CNN's Jacqueline Howard spoke with Eliana's mom and her health team at Driscoll Children's Hospital about the healing process. 02:30 - Source: CNN Millions of bees buzz around Washington state roads after truck overturns Millions of bees escape after a truck carrying honeybee hives overturned in Whatcom County, Washington, and rolled into a ditch. Local beekeepers were called to the scene. 00:42 - Source: CNN Taylor Swift buys back her entire music catalogue Roughly six years after Taylor Swift protested the sale of her master recordings by her former record label, she now owns her entire catalog of music. Swift announced the news in a letter posted to her website. 01:28 - Source: CNN 108-year-old submarine wreck seen in new footage Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution captured close-up images of a WWI-era submarine lost at sea 108 years ago. 00:40 - Source: CNN Car flies off the road, crashes into a roof Video shows a car fly off the road and into a veterans hall in Missouri, police say as a result of speeding. This is the second time in three months a car crashed into the same building. The veterans hall will be closed for months for a second time after the latest crash, according to CNN affiliate KCTV. 00:38 - Source: CNN 'The Handmaid's Tale' star reacts to parting scene with June O-T Fagbenle reflects on wrapping "The Handmaid's Tale," Luke's evolution, and the emotional final scene with June as the series ends after six seasons. 02:04 - Source: CNN Elephant seal in Cape Town wanders into suburbia, stops traffic and wins the hearts of locals A Southern elephant seal makes a surprise visit to the residential neighborhood of Gordon's Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, and triggers an almost nine-hour rescue effort to return him to the coast. 00:57 - Source: CNN Why e.l.f. just bought Hailey Bieber's beauty brand for $1 billion e.l.f. Beauty is buying Hailey Bieber's makeup brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. Founded in 2022, Bieber's brand racked up $212 million in net sales in its last fiscal year. 01:11 - Source: CNN
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
WorldPride parade to hit the streets of D.C. Saturday
A 1,000-foot rainbow flag, more than 300 crooners and a team of cheerleaders will float, sing and dance their way down 14th Street NW this Saturday to celebrate Pride. The parade will kick off at 2 p.m. at the intersection of 14th and T streets with a ceremony led by Indigenous residents in the D.C. area. Actresses Laverne Cox and Reneé Rapp will act as grand marshals, along with Deacon Maccubbin — an activist who organized D.C.'s first Pride celebration 50 years ago. They will shepherd about 300 groups of floats, vehicles and walkers along the route, said Tiffany Lyn Royster, director of community engagement with Capital Pride Alliance and WorldPride. They'll head south along 14th Street until turning left onto Pennsylvania Avenue and right onto Ninth Street. The parade will go on until around 8 p.m. and will be followed by a concert headlined by the actress Cynthia Erivo at Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. 'We may have some special guests in store for folks,' Royster said. 'Definitely keep a look out.' The parade and other festivities will kick off the final two days of WorldPride in D.C., a three-week festival celebrating the LGBTQ community. The festivities also commemorate the city's 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations. Organizers acknowledge that WorldPride this year has not been the massive celebration they originally hoped for — one that was expected to attract up to 3 million people, fill hotels to capacity, and bring revenue to the District and its businesses. The Trump administration's targeting of transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts has led to heightened concerns from many in the LGBQT community over their safety. A Shakira concert scheduled for WorldPride's opening festivities last Saturday was canceled because of production issues. And on Friday, many D.C. community members were outraged over a National Park Service order to fence off Dupont Circle Park for Pride weekend. The park, in the heart of D.C.'s historic LGBQT neighborhood, has long been a gathering place for Pride celebrations. Royster said that she thinks Pride takes on more importance this year because of this charged political climate. The parade is still expected to attract up to 700,000 attendees, almost double the number than in a typical year, according to Royster. The parade usually attracts around 300,000 to 400,000 people. 'I think that people are just going to be louder and prouder,' Royster said. 'We have folks who are from all over the world at this point participating in our parade on Saturday, and they came to help us fight and they came to help us be proud.' At the parade, a coalition of singers hailing from Colorado to Maine will serenade spectators as they carry an enormous rainbow flag down the route, said Thea Kano, artistic director for the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC. The playlist will include 'Freedom' by Beyoncé and a couple of social justice tunes. For Kano, singing in the parade is all about spreading positivity and sharing it with the broader community. 'When we sing, joy is the number one thing. We come in joy,' Kano said. 'It's resistance. It's resilience. In a sense, it feels that people are trying to take our joy away and, you know, good luck with that.' Parade-goers will also hear the blaring horns and beating drums of D.C.'s Different Drummers Marching Band, an LGBTQ ensemble. One musician, Kirsten Zeiter, will play the trumpet with her rainbow-colored prosthetic left arm. Zeiter said she is looking forward to taking part in the event, 'especially being part of a group like D.C.'s Different Drummers that is all about inclusion, acceptance, pride and representation,' she said. 'Any performance with them I just feel joy.' In addition to the parade, organizers are hosting a block party on 17th Street from noon to 10 p.m. The location in Dupont, the city's original 'Gayborhood,' was chosen because of its connection to historical uprisings among D.C.'s LGBTQ+ community, Royster said. Other events Saturday include a street festival showcasing artisans and multicultural performances, music and dancing at small stages across the grounds and a musical festival headlined by Troye Sivan and featuring Kim Petras, Purple Disco Machine and Raye. The celebration goes on through Sunday with a continuation of the street festival, DJs, drag and drumming at the small stages and a closing concert from Doechii. This weekend, residents should expect much of downtown, Dupont and Logan circles, and the U Street area to be closed to cars at least part of the time. Metro will close at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and open at 6 a.m. Saturday and Sunday to accommodate Pride celebrations.
