Extra security measures were in place Saturday as thousands were expected to attend Orange County's first Pride parade in downtown Santa Ana, two weeks after a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
Organizers of the event, which began at 11 a.m. on Main Street between Washington and 3rd streets, partnered with the city and police to help ensure public safety. Police said uniformed officers and those on horseback were highly visible on the grounds. They also monitored social media for any potential threats.
The beefed-up security comes in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S., when a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub, leaving 49 dead.
Organizers said Orange County's first-ever pride parade, which celebrates the LGBT community, had to be a balance between remembering lives lost and celebrating the lives that will gather.
"I encourage everyone to come out," said Zackery Glass, president of LBGT Pride in Orange County, prior to the event. "To celebrate, to enjoy life, to remember those we've lost in last couple weeks and those we've lost in last couple decades and to honor their lives and to live your life"
The Pride Parade ended at 1 p.m., but the festival was to continue through 11p.m.
For more information about the festival and parade, click here.
