Members of Montreal’s black community are angry with what they say was an unnecessary number of police officers at this past weekend’s Carifiesta parade.

Reverend Darryl Gray posted a photo to Facebook Saturday showing at least 10 police officers dressed in all black with black gloves standing side by side and blocking the road at Union and Ste. Catherine Sts., the end of the parade route.

This is what awaits Blacks in Montreal, after peaceful celebration of culture. Montreal Carifesta is an annual event,...

Posted by Darryl Gregory Gray on Saturday, July 4, 2015

Gray said the police presence amounted to a “deliberate attempt” to intimidate parade-goers. He also says police told parade participants to shut the music off before the end of the parade route.

Montreal police say it is standard practice to have an intervention team at any parade or major outdoor event, and that there's nothing out of the ordinary in the photo. They say there were four times as many police officers at the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Deputy Mayor Mary Deros said she was surprised by the amount of police at the event when she saw Gray's post.

"My reaction was 'Where was this? Why?'" she said.

According to Grey, the issue it's a matter of optics for Montreal's black community.

"The demeanor in which they were placed there, I think it was counterproductive in our efforts to have better community/police relations," he said. "It's visibility, it's perception."

They also sent along a video of an officer salsa dancing as part of their response to questions about their presence at the parade.

Deros is working with Gray and parade organizers to organize a meeting in order to shed light on why there was such a heavy police presence. Gray has requested that police representatives be present at the meeting.