During New York City Pride celebrations, a massive brawl erupted in Washington Square Park. Participants engaged in fistfights and hair-pulling battles, with some being thrown to the ground. A 20-year-old man was shot and hospitalized with multiple bullet injuries. Police arrested 22 people, but the motive behind the brawl remains unclear.
Footage shared by Oliya Scootercaster on social media captured the chaos, showing men and women involved in violent altercations. The video showed a group of partygoers engaged in physical fights, with onlookers gathering to witness and film the scenes.
In the United States, the last Sunday of June is celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," marking the culmination of Pride Month, which honors the fight for civil rights and the quest for equality for the LGBTQ community.
However, the NYC Pride celebrations descended into chaos, with violent clashes overshadowing the festivities. Reports from the Daily Mail detailed the violent scenes in Lower Manhattan, where onlookers watched and filmed the brawls.
One clip showed a woman with blood on her face and shirt lunging at another person while the crowd cheered. Another clip captured two men throwing punches until one fell, followed by a fight between two women, with bystanders attempting to intervene. Near the park's water fountain, two women were seen fighting, with one pushing the other off the edge, causing her to fall.
In another incident, a woman in pink was thrown to the ground and dragged by her attacker. A small group quickly helped the injured woman to safety as she held her head and stumbled away.
Shattered glass covered the ground, and people were seen walking barefoot after losing their shoes in the fights.
Before the violence, footage showed women twerking in a white vehicle and someone dancing on top of a light pole. As night fell, the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the closure of Washington Square Park over loudspeakers, leading to clashes between the police and unruly partygoers.
One witness told ABC7, "The first one, I was running. I heard two, but I didn't know if it was a shot or not. I thought it was like a firework or something because it's Pride, you know."
The NYPD arrested 22 people after the brawl. Sixteen people were released after being given desk appearances, while six remain in custody with charges pending.
"This is really crazy. Pride is not supposed to be like this," a witness told the news outlet. "We're supposed to come out and enjoy and love one another. We hope there will be no more violence and craziness."
The reason behind the massive fight is still unclear.
