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An NYPD officer during the NYC Pride March on June 26, 2016 in New York City. Eric Thayer / Getty Images

Rodney Diverlus, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto, pointed to the fraught history between police and black communities, as well as queer communities, in his response to GOALs invitation.

I think its outrageous to be honest with you, Diverlus said in an interview with NBC Out. This is coming from one of the most violent police forces in the world, the NYPD, and it just shows the lack of commitment from our police force to be addressing any of the real issues with this action.

BLM has been protesting police brutality since its inception in 2013, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida.

In March of last year, BLM

The invitation from New York police to Toronto police does nothing to better the relations between police forces and black communities. Were talking about how black and queer people face violence from police and how queer communities can be more inclusive to black communities, Diverlus said. Were talking about life and death.

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James Fallarino, a spokesman for the NYC Pride March organizers, noted in an interview with NBC Out that the invitation to the Toronto Police Service did not come from NYC Pride organizers. However, he said GOAL was welcome to invite whomever they'd like.

Our policy around the NYC Pride March is that anybody who wishes to register can do so, and then theyre welcome to invite anyone they like to march with them, he explained. In the context of that, we look forward to having police officers from all over representing GOAL.

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After Toronto Pride Exclusion, Canadian Cops Invited to Attend NYC March - NBCNews.com