The U.S. Park Service released an official statement on June 5 announcing it has decided to close Dupont Circle Park for the WorldPride weekend from 5 a.m. Friday, June 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 8.

While not saying so directly, the statement rejects a request by D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to rescind her earlier request last week to close Dupont Circle Park for the WorldPride weekend after hearing from members of the community objecting to the closure.

After receiving Smith’s initial request to close the park, the National Park Service issued an earlier statement saying it agreed with Smith’s request and that the U.S. Park Police concurred with the closure request. But up until it released its latest statement on June 5, the Park Service did not publicly state whether it would agree t

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