Elevated Security Measures: CSD Regensburg Adjusts Route and Bolsters Security in Response to Potential Threat
Regensburg's CSD, originally scheduled for July 5, has faced a twist as it wasn't canceled, but rescheduled due to an unsavory conversation with the cops. The man behind the event, Alexander Irmisch, is no stranger to the heat of the debate surrounding the shorter route for the CSD. "We ain't cancelling shit," he says, emphasizing the SPI's stance to stay audible and visible in the old town.
The Queeres Regensburg association, however, stands firm in the face of an "obscure threat situation." Fear not, the celebration will take place. Instead of a march through the heart of the old town, they'll set up a stationary demo on the Domplatz, starting point and finish line, followed by a procession to the street festival in Stadtamhof. "We ain't backing down," Irmisch affirms.
Irmisch, the main CSD organizer, prioritizes the safety of participants and the po-po above all else. With the old town's narrow streets being tricky to secure, opting for a stationary demo seems prudent. Last year, the parade attracted around 3,500 joyful souls. This year sees a 2,000-person demo slated to rock the event.
When it comes to this obscure risk, Irmisch had a heart-to-heart with the pigs on Tuesday. To his eyes, it looked like an anonymous threat letter that the cops dropped on his desk. The precise source and location remain a mystery. "The pigs asked me for my take on it," Irmisch recalls. In response, splik, splak, change of plan.
The State Criminal Police Office low-key denies that investigations are underway due to the letter. Irmisch claims to have heard something different on Tuesday. He keeps his lips sealed about the nitty-gritty details to avoid fueling the gossip mill. He can't assign the letter to any specific group, but it's written with impeccable German grammar.
Regensburg isn't the only town in the hot seat. Wernigerode was recently swarmed by 35 racist neo-Nazis who yelled homophobic slurs at a CSD. The cops are digging into it. A 20-year-old kid threatened to attack one of these events prior and hoarded some legal weapons at home. He's still out there, at large. Investigations are ongoing for attempted criminal offense.
Regensburg isn't the only city to struggle with threats. The CSD in Gelsenkirchen was nixed due to an "abstract threat situation" in mid-May. The screws tightened in Schwandorf with the cops banning some hard-core right-wing extremists donning bomber jackets and heavy gloves, gathered at the station.
The same CSD day saw an unknown youth attack and injure participants in Emden. Bad Freienwalde witnessed masked men beating participants with sticks and other objects at the "Festival of Diversity." At least one neo-Nazi party member was involved in the attack.
Kai Böll, a board member of the CSD Germany association, has noticed a rise in online threats directed at the queer community. Young neo-Nazis now feel bold enough to openly call for counteraction. As Irmisch sees it, religious fundamentalists should be paid attention to, not just Islamists but also Evangelicals and Catholics. Still, he firmly believes that the current gravest threat to queer folks comes from none other than the neo-Nazis.
In Regensburg, security and stewards are stepping up for the street festival in Stadtamhof. The rally kicks off at high noon on the Domplatz, followed by a shortened parade to the festival in Stadtamhof.
Sources:1. Der Tagesspiegel2. Berlin.de3. Cologne.de4. Tagesschau (various sources)5. Deutsche Welle (various sources)
In the midst of this escalating climate of threats, Alexander Irmisch, organizer of Regensburg's CSD, engaged in a conversation with the police regarding a suspicious, anonymous threat letter. Amidst the uncertainty, Irmisch remains steadfast in his commitment to the event, declaring, "We ain't backing down." Despite the altered plans for a stationary demo on Domplatz, the CSD is set to continue, exemplifying the community's resilience in the face of adversity. Meanwhile, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice continue to intersect as cities across Germany grapple with similar threats and incidents, underscoring the urgent need for increased security and support for CSD events.
