Authorities crack down on Berlin's Gay Pride event - detentions taken place
In the heart of Berlin, the Internationalist Queer Pride for Liberation (IQP) event was forcibly disbanded by the police on a fateful evening in 2025[1]. The clashes with law enforcement occurred as heavily armed officers attacked demonstrators multiple times, ultimately dissolving the event at 8 pm before it could reach its planned endpoint at Oranienplatz[2].
The tensions and clashes between the police and demonstrators were rooted in the event's political stance. The IQP is a movement that links queer liberation with Palestinian liberation, a controversial stance in Germany[2][3]. The march was organised primarily by immigrant groups, including Black, Asian, and Latino communities, who marched through immigrant neighborhoods. Older Palestinians showed solidarity despite some media portrayals of homophobia in these communities[2].
Critics argued that the police actions were disproportionate and fuelled by queerphobia and right-wing tendencies within the Berlin police force. There were reports and accusations of police brutality rather than disturbances caused by protesters[2]. German media noted a small counter-demonstration of 30-50 Nazis, but the police violence was seen as a far greater threat to the event[2].
Regarding anti-Semitic incidents, none of the available search results describe or mention specific anti-Semitic incidents occurring during the Internationalist Queer Pride event itself. The conflict emphasis centres primarily on the police-queer demonstrator clashes and Palestinian solidarity rather than episodes of anti-Semitism[2][3].
The IQP event in Berlin attracted approximately 10,000 participants[1]. Many demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and keffiyehs, while some displayed symbols of constitutionally hostile and terrorist organizations[1]. About 800 people at the event had a pro-Palestinian connection[1]. People with Israeli flags and the Ukrainian national flag were also present[1].
The event ended tragically, with 57 arrests made during the event, and 17 police officers injured[1]. The number of injured protesters remains unknown[1]. The disbandment of the IQP event in Berlin highlights the ongoing tensions between queer antiracist activists and right-wing forces within law enforcement[2][3].
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/20/berlin-police-disband-internationalist-queer-pride-for-liberation-event-after-clashes [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/berlin-police-disband-internationalist-queer-pride-for-liberation-event-2025-06-20/ [3] https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-police-disband-internationalist-queer-pride-for-liberation-event/a-59188755
- Amidst the controversial IQP event, discussions erupted on social media, with people debating the role of politics, Palestinian solidarity, and alleged police brutality.
- The following day, general news outlets reported on incidents of crime and justice, with a focus on the 57 arrests made during the IQP event in Berlin, sparking discussions about social-media activism and the effects on real-world events.
- Political podcasts and entertainment shows analyzed the clashes between the police and demonstrators during the IQP event, examining the potential implications of war and conflicts brewing within the law enforcement sector and society at large.
