Vancouver Lunar New Year parade reverses decision to bar progressive, 2SLGBTQ+ groups
Rejected groups seek apology, say they haven't received formal invitation to participate in Sunday's parade
Organizers of the Vancouver Chinatown Lunar New Year parade have changed course and rescinded their rejection of two progressive and 2SLGBTQ+ groups that they previously barred from participating.
Organizing committee spokesperson Frank Huang says letters have been sent to the groups Chinatown Together and Lunar New Year For All, approving their participation in Sunday's parade.
Huang didn't give any reasons for the reversal in a brief interview in Mandarin late Friday afternoon.
However the two rejected groups said they have yet to receive formal invitations to participate in Sunday's parade as of 9:30 p.m. Friday.
"The absence of a formally signed invitation from your committee leaves us uncertain about our welcome to
participate in the parade," Chinatown Together and Lunar New Year For All wrote in a joint letter to festival organizers shared with CBC News.
CBC News has reached out to both parties for clarification.
In previous letters and statements, the committee had told Chinatown Together that it couldn't march because of a ban on "political activism," while it rejected another group it didn't identify because of "the potential for disruption and protests."
Extra police officers will be deployed to the parade and celebrations, but Vancouver police say there are no specific public safety risks and the move is aimed at managing the large crowd.
The two groups said Friday that should they receive a formal invitation, they will only consider it if the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration Committee publicly apologizes for the "harmful and unfounded statements."
"Your committee has chosen to place our groups through a series of turbulence, disappointment, public humiliation, character assassination," said the letter.
They also want organizers to commit to a "fair and transparent process for parade eligibility for all groups in the future."
Sunday's Spring Festival Parade in Vancouver is celebrating its 50th anniversary and marks the Year of the Dragon, which starts on Saturday.
With files from CBC News