Saxony: Pride in Zwickau runs smoothly despite right-wing protests

Saxony
CSD in Zwickau runs smoothly despite right-wing protests

01.09.2024, 09:17

Hundreds of people demonstrate for the rights of the LGBTQ scene at the CSD in Zwickau. Despite right-wing extremist protests, it remains largely peaceful – the police were prepared.

Zwickau (dpa/sn) – Accompanied by protests by right-wing extremist groups, hundreds of people in Zwickau celebrated Christopher Street Day (CSD). According to the police, it remained largely peaceful. The police had prepared intensively for the operation in Zwickau. Parallel to the CSD, the right-wing extremist splinter party III. Weg had announced a counter-event. In a statement, the police spoke of around 800 CSD participants. Initially, there was talk of 150 counter-demonstrators. No disruptions to the gathering were reported until the scheduled end in the evening, according to the police.

To protect the CSD, a group of potential participants in the right-wing extremist march that had arrived at the main train station was stopped and led to the event location at Georgenplatz in a controlled manner with sufficient time between them, the police reported. The route of the march was almost halved.

Investigation into anti-constitutional symbols

In connection with the gathering, the police opened six investigations for the use of anti-constitutional symbols and two for insults, it said. In addition, seven violations of the assembly law were identified. Around midday, I heard on social networks that there had been a stabbing in the Bahnhofsvorstadt, the police reported: “This was a false report.”

More than 450 emergency personnel on site

According to the information, a total of 477 emergency personnel secured the gatherings. According to a dpa photographer, two water cannons, an armored special vehicle and a helicopter were also deployed.

In August, the CSD in Bautzen was under police protection. A good 1,000 CSD participants faced around 680 people from the right-wing scene. The police initiated 14 criminal proceedings and seven administrative offence proceedings. One case involved bodily harm, two cases involved incitement to hatred and one case involved the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations.

Christopher Street Day takes place every year in many cities around the world and commemorates the events of June 28, 1969 in New York: Police stormed a bar on Christopher Street, sparking protests lasting several days, including by gays, lesbians and transgender people. The CSD is intended to remind people of their rights.