The 965 Joins Throng of Thousands in Pride Parade

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford leads members of the University of Arkansas's labor organization June 29, 2024, in the 20th annual Northwest Arkansas Pride Paraded down Fayetteville's Dickson Street.

Members and supporters of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965 walked with and behind our “Organize, agitate, educate” banner down Dickson Street on Saturday, June 29, 2024, for the 20th annual NWA Pride Parade.

Local 965 walked as part of the “Students, Staff, and Faculty from the University of Arkansas Community” contingent of employee or student groups.

Local 965 President Hershal Hartford hands out flyers to UA employees June 29 while waiting for the 2024 Pride Parade to start.
Local 965 President Hershal Hartford hands out flyers to UA employees June 29 while waiting for the 2024 Pride Parade to start. Photo by Bret Schulte.
Local 965 Vice President Ben Pollock, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and 965 President Hershel Hartford catch up in conversation before the 2024 Pride Parade June 29.
From left, Local 965 Vice President Ben Pollock, Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan and 965 President Hershel Hartford catch up in conversation before the 2024 Pride Parade June 29. Photo by Hershel Hartford.

Local 965 supports LGBTQ causes and as THE official labor organization of all UA staff and faculty (since 1962), we fight for human rights and civil rights. We represent our members, while we advocate for all UA employees.

Members of Local 965 savor the shade before the 2024 NWA Pride Parade June 29.
Members of Local 965 savor the shade before the 2024 NWA Pride Parade June 29. Photo by Hershel Hartford
The 2024 NWA Pride Parade pauses June 29, 2024.
The 2024 NWA Pride Parade pauses June 29, 2024. Photo by Hershel Hartford.

The parade has been the highlight of the NWA Pride Weekend, organized by NWA Pride, a subsidiary of Northwest Arkansas Equality, a nonprofit advocacy organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. NWA Pride Director Richard Gathright predicted days earlier to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (or alternate link) that more than 35,000 would attend or participate. No authorities have announced their estimates of how many were there Saturday.

Broadcast news coverage included a nearly 18-minute video from very early in the parade from KHBS-TV/KHOG-TV, a preview aired June 28 by KNWA-TV/KFTA-TV, and a spot-news parade report from KFSM-TV. The Democrat-Gazette published a long caption but no link on the parade June 30, and the Fayetteville Flyer published an article and dozens of photographs.

The NWA Pride Weekend had vendors on sides streets and parking lots through the day Saturday with entertainment that night, social activities June 30, yet began June 28 with an evening March for trans rights followed by a rally and festival. Local 965 as in previous years also participated in Friday’s trans march.

Local 965 Vice President Ben Pollock courses down Block Avenue June 28, 2024, in the NWA Trans March.
Local 965 Vice President Ben Pollock courses down Block Avenue June 28, 2024, in the NWA Trans March. Photo by Rep. Denise Firmin Garner
Screen grab of KFSM-TV story on the NWA Trans March on June 28, 2024
Screen grab of KFSM-TV story on the NWA Trans March on June 28, 2024

The crowded events of Fayetteville’s Pride Weekend were safe and orderly due to the skilled and friendly work of local law enforcement. We salute them.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford leads members of the University of Arkansas's labor organization June 29, 2024, in the 20th annual Northwest Arkansas Pride Paraded down Fayetteville's Dickson Street.
Local 965 President Hershel Hartford leads members of the University of Arkansas’s labor organization June 29, 2024, in the 20th annual Northwest Arkansas Pride Paraded down Fayetteville’s Dickson Street. Photo by Ben Pollock