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NYC revelers PANICKED after fireworks were mistaken for gunshots while stampede triggered in SF

NYC Pride revelers scream after they confuse fireworks with gunshots in Manhattan park while a stampede triggered at San Francisco's Civic Centre on June 26 after a rumor of mass shooting

The two largest Pride parades in the country - New York City and San Francisco were interrupted by the panicked crowd of Pride revelers who mistakenly heard gunshots in New York City while a stampede triggered at the City Centre in San Francisco after a rumor spread of mass shooting. With rising tensions nationwide after Supreme Court's Roe v Wade ruling, the Pride parade celebration was mixed with agitation. 

In Manhattan, revelers celebrating in Washington Square Park panicked after they confused fireworks with gunshots. The crowd scattered and created chaos and tension. However, later on, Jeffrey Maddrey, New York Police Department’s chief of patrol, tweeted on Sunday, June 26 afternoon that the noise was from fireworks, and there was no gunfire. "Be advised there have been NO shots fired in Washington Square Park. After an investigation, we determined there were fireworks set off at the location", Maddrey wrote. Thousands of Pride revelers panicked in the park around 8:50 pm. “People totally freaked out,” said one witness, who asked not to be named. “We heard two loud bangs and everyone just started running at the same time. People were just running every direction.”

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“Who would light fireworks at a place they know thousands of queer people are gathered?” she asked. “Obviously everyone thought it was a gun.” Police said there were no reported injuries, but at least one person had difficulty breathing after the chaos, sources said.

A video from the protest of the crowd was shared on Twitter by video editor Brian Vinik. "One of the surges of panic when it happened, even several blocks away from the Park. Scary and sad", he wrote.

"Aftermath of panic at Washington Square Park after people mistook fireworks for gunshots during Pride. Fortunately I was several blocks away from the main stampede. Sad reflection of the state of the world that vulnerable communities & celebrations have to be on such high alert", he further wrote while sharing pictures after the scene.

Writer and author, Ilana Kaplan wrote, "jfc sending love to everyone who was in washington square park today trying to celebrate pride and left with trauma bc the fear of mass shootings is everywhere."

One user wrote, "the way mass shootings have affected NYC is insane. fireworks went off at Washington square park during pride and people almost got trampled because people ran in masses in fear. like nothing i have ever seen." "definitely should have said America. the U.S. has experienced so much chaos, death, and pain because of mass shootings. its sick that its still happening because of the failure of our government to f**king do the right and rational thing. gun control is a necessity", the user added.

Another wrote, "I was there and it was horrible. Fell over in the stampede and no buildings were open so we were out in the street. After what happened in Oslo I didn’t want to risk it."

Similarly, in San Francisco, Pride revelers in the Civic Centre were triggered in terror as rumors spread of a mass shooting during the protest. San Francisco police told DailyMail.com that they believed it was a false alarm. "On June 26, at approximately 5:25 pm, San Francisco Police Officers assigned to the Civic Center area for the San Francisco Pride Festival responded to the area of 7 St and Market Street on a report of a shooting," they said in a statement.

"Officers responded to the area and were unable to locate any victims or witnesses". "At this time it does not appear that there was any merit to a shooting in the area, and officers remain on scene to ensure safety and security of Pride events", they added.

Disclaimer: This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.