Violent attack on CSD participants in Görlitz: Police are investigating!

Violent attack on CSD participants in Görlitz: Police are investigating!

Last Saturday evening there was an unfortunate incident in Görlitz as part of the 4th Christopher Street Day (CSD), which was held under the motto “Acceptance, Love, Equality!” stood. Despite the positive atmosphere in which hundreds of people marched through the city to demonstrate for tolerance and diversity, the police are investigating suspicion of grievous bodily harm. A 14-year-old was slightly injured by several unknown perpetrators and had to seek medical treatment. It remains to be seen to what extent this incident is related to the CSD meeting that has already ended, and whether those involved, both the injured party and the perpetrator, took part in the CSD MDR.

The CSD in Görlitz, which took place on September 27th, not only attracted positive energy. While the event was well protected by the police to guarantee peaceful coexistence, around 100 right-wing extremists from Germany and Poland also mobilized for a counter-demonstration via social networks. The police ensured that a direct encounter between the groups was prevented by sending the CSD participants and counter-demonstrators on the same route at a different time, but at a distance of around 200 meters. According to the police report, there were no riots or physical injuries, which is a positive sign, but also reflects the increasing tensions in the region [n-tv].

The challenges of CSD events

The events surrounding the CSD in Görlitz are not an isolated case. The trail of hostility and growing hatred against queer people runs through numerous CSD parades, not only in Saxony, but also nationwide. With hundreds of thousands of participants in cities like Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, the parades show strong solidarity, but they are often accompanied by a large police presence. For example, the CSD in Bautzen was also held under police protection in order to prevent violent disruptive actions, which once again illustrates the challenging situation in which LGBTQ+ events currently find themselves, as Tagesschau reports.

The increase in insults and physical attacks against CSD events is particularly worrying. Last year, a man was attacked at a CSD in Braunschweig, which led to the decision to deploy additional private security forces. There were also incidents of right-wing extremist and homophobic statements at the Cologne CSD, which underlines the need for significant security precautions.

This situation not only highlights the urgency of doing more to protect and accept LGBTQ+ people, but also shows how important it is to continue this fight for equality and tolerance not only during the CSD events, but also in everyday life. The CSD is more than just a celebration - it is a deeply rooted symbol against discrimination and for harmonious coexistence in our society.