CSD Eberswalde: Peaceful protest against right-wing agitation under police protection

CSD Eberswalde: Peaceful protest against right-wing agitation under police protection

On June 21, 2025, Christopher Street Day (CSD) was celebrated in Eberswalde, Brandenburg, under the shadow of a recent violent incident. After an attack on a diversity festival in Bad Freienwalde in which several participants were injured, the police increased security. Hundreds of people took part in the colorful demonstration for diversity and the rights of queer people, which led from the station forecourt across Eisenbahnstrasse to the market square and finally to the park at Weidedamm. The final rally then took place in the park at Weidedamm, where the slogans for tolerance and acceptance were unmistakable. rbb24 reports that ...

The police were heavily present during the events. In addition to regular emergency services, state security officers and police officers with dogs were also on site to ensure security. The reason for the increased police presence was the worrying incident in Bad Freienwalde, where a group of around ten to fifteen masked people attacked participants at a festival and injured two people. In order to prevent similar incidents, the police kept the CSD demonstrators away from an AfD event that was taking place at the same time on the market square. Tagesspiegel has provided information on this.

Diversity instead of hate

However, the atmosphere of the CSD event was largely peaceful. According to estimates, around 2,000 people took part in the celebrations, while the AfD event, which had fewer than 100 participants, had a very limited response. Solid good weather helped CSD participants enthusiastically express their messages of diversity and acceptance. It remained remarkably quiet and the police did not have to intervene. This positive turn of events was also recognized by Brandenburg's police chief Oliver Stepien, who was on site to monitor the security situation and listen to people's concerns.

The crimes against queer people in Brandenburg recorded by the police show a worrying trend: the numbers rose from 68 in 2023 to 118 in 2024 - an increase of around 74%. In view of these developments, the fight against right-wing extremism remains a central task for the police and society as a whole. It's not just the CSDs in Eberswalde that show how important it is to stand up for the rights of minorities; Other upcoming CSDs in cities such as Falkensee, Wittenberge, Luckenwalde and Neuruppin also illustrate the continued importance of such events.

Social responsibility

The AfD has once again drawn attention to itself through its political demands, including a ban on the rainbow flag on public buildings. These demands and the status of the AfD as a suspected right-wing extremist case, which is being monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, raise questions about social responsibility and the willingness to engage in dialogue. While the CSD in Eberswalde sent a strong signal for the rights of queer people, current developments call for vigilance against extremist attitudes and their influence on society. Nationwide protests against right-wing extremism, such as the recent one in Berlin, also show that the issue is urgent and mobilizes many people to actively work for a cosmopolitan and tolerant society. Tagesschau offers further information on this.