‘Do not come to San Francisco.’ City cancels 4/20 event and 50th anniversary of Pride
You can’t go to San Francisco to smoke on 4/20, the mayor says.
Mayor London Breed said Monday that marijuana smokers aren’t welcome to celebrate 4/20 in the city this year.
“Do not come to San Francisco to celebrate. We will cite people. We will arrest people if necessary,” Breed said on Twitter. “Order food. Watch Netflix. Stay home and stay safe.”
Last year, at least 19,000 people went to Robin Williams Meadow in Golden Gate Park to smoke weed at the park, according to NBC Bay Area. Going to Hippie Hill to smoke on the unofficial holiday had been a long tradition, the news outlet reported.
The event dates back to the ‘70s and draws people from all over the world, according to 420 Hippie Hill.
“Due to the ongoing concerns around COVID-19 The 420 Hippie Hill celebration on April 20th, 2020 in Golden Gate Park has been canceled,” organizers said. “We take the health and safety of the public, our staff, vendors, and sponsors very seriously. We feel it’s all of our responsibility to do our part to minimize social gathering and potential spread of this virus in the community.”
Breed said the city is planning to close off the area and police will patrol there.
“We will cite and, if necessary, arrest,” she said. “We will not tolerate anyone coming to San Francisco for 4/20 this year.”
The 4/20 festivities weren’t the only ones canceled in San Francisco this week.
On Tuesday, the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride was canceled.
“Today, the Board of Directors of San Francisco Pride announced that this year’s Parade and Celebration, originally scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, June 27-28, will not take place as planned,” organizers said in a news release. “Uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified in recent weeks, and the organization has concluded that the risks to public health of a large-scale gathering such as Pride preclude this year’s production of the annual event.”
At least a million people were expected to attend this year’s landmark anniversary event, organizers said. A virtual celebration called “Virtual Global Pride” will still happen June 27, organizers said.
“We know what Pride symbolizes for San Francisco — and to LGBTQ+ people around the world,” board President Carolyn Wysinger said in the news release. “We know our decision means disappointment, canceled plans, and one less thing for us all to look forward to. We also know that protecting the safety of all our communities is the most important. We look forward to gathering with all of you, our friends and our families and our allies. In the meantime, SF Pride will offer new and creative ways to commemorate LGBTQ+ Pride.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 8:07 PM with the headline "‘Do not come to San Francisco.’ City cancels 4/20 event and 50th anniversary of Pride."