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Leipzig celebrates CSD: Over 10,000 people for freedom and diversity!
Leipzig celebrated the CSD 2023 with over 10,000 participants, under the motto “We’re staying here!” and commemorates the Peaceful Revolution.
Leipzig celebrates CSD: Over 10,000 people for freedom and diversity!
This weekend over 10,000 people flocked to Leipzig to celebrate Christopher Street Day (CSD) 2023. The motto “We stay here!” referred directly to the historic Peaceful Revolution of 1989 and expressed the unwavering commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights. Just a year ago there was significant disruption from right-wing counter-demonstrators, but this year the streets remained quiet, police confirmed. This positive turn was welcomed by the organizers of the CSD, who emphasized that noble values are at the forefront. More than 50 events rounded off the colorful spectacle in the week before the big day, an impressive symbol of the emancipation movement.
Particularly symbolic was the rainbow flag that was hoisted at the New Town Hall to celebrate equality and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. The climax of the celebrations traditionally took place with a rally on Augustusplatz and a subsequent procession through the city. The roots of the CSD go back to East Germany's first CSD in Leipzig in 1992 and at the same time recall the events of June 28, 1969 in New York, when the police stormed a bar on Christopher Street.
The historical context
The CSD takes place in an important historical context. Over 30 years ago, on October 9, 1989, there was a peaceful demonstration in Leipzig that was attended by thousands of people and is considered a key event of the Peaceful Revolution. On this day, citizens showed their courage and their demands for change in the GDR - this happened at a time in which the Stasi and the military were prominently present. The filmmakers who documented the events were convinced that change was possible in Leipzig, which ultimately proved to be the case.
The footage from this demonstration, which was later broadcast on the news and continues to this day on various platforms such as bpb can be seen make it clear how a peaceful protest could influence public perception and subsequent changes in state politics. In fact, other important political upheavals followed after October 9th, including the resignation of Erich Honecker.
Departure into the future
Today Leipzig not only stands for a haunting reminder of the past, but also for the ongoing fight for equality and the rights of all people. The multitude of events and the broad social support show that the pursuit of freedom and equality remains alive in this city. A look at the events of 1989 and the ongoing challenges of the present reminds us of the importance of actively standing up for the values that many of us hold dear.
This year's CSD was a strong signal that the commitment to human rights and the rights of LGBTQ+ people remains very important. The entertaining, peaceful day in Leipzig symbolizes not only a celebration of diversity, but also a continuous process in society that is characterized by courage and the voice of citizens.