Ahead of the Christopher Street Day (CSD) demonstration taking place in Berlin on Saturday, the German Police Union (GdP) says it faces new challenges and expects a "major operation." This year, security-related issues "that weren't relevant years ago" must be addressed, Benjamin Jendro, spokesperson for the GdP Berlin regional association, told the German Editorial Network (Saturday).
"In light of the serious rampage and terrorist attacks, so-called overrun protection is now a standard feature of such a large event," Jendro explained. Furthermore, "especially from the right-wing extremist milieu," there are increasingly targeted acts of violence against the LGBTQ community by unpredictable individuals. But there are also "organized groups whose members travel to Berlin specifically," "which is why one must, of course, keep an eye on any demonstrations in the vicinity," Jendro emphasized.
In response to a request from the RND, Berlin police stated that they have not yet received any concrete information regarding threats from the right-wing extremist spectrum. A right-wing extremist rally against the Pride of Berlin (CSD) has been registered for 11:30 a.m. on Schöneberger Ufer. According to police, the organizer expects 400 participants. The police will be deployed with approximately 1,300 officers, supported by hundreds of police officers from other federal states.
Berlin's CSD will take place on Saturday under the motto “Never silent again.” The protest march will proceed from Mitte via Schöneberg to the Victory Column in the Tiergarten district, passing numerous buildings in the government quarter. Opening statements will be given by, among others, Bundestag Vice President Josephine Ortleb (SPD) and Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour (Greens). The demonstration is for the rights of gays, lesbians, transsexuals, transgender people, intersexuals, and bisexuals, among others.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected in Berlin for this year's demonstration for LGBTQ rights. The protest march, with 80 floats and around 100 walking groups, will move from Mitte via Schöneberg to the Victory Column in the Tiergarten district. A closing rally and a stage program at the Brandenburg Gate are planned for the afternoon.
The rally commemorates June 28, 1969, when police stormed the Stonewall Inn gay bar on New York's Christopher Street, sparking days of clashes between activists and security forces. The uprising is considered the birth of the modern gay and lesbian movement. The acronym LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
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