Enhanced police surveillance at Eberswalde's CSD location
In the rural heart of Brandenburg, Eberswalde prepares for its second ever Christopher Street Day (CSD) on the weekend, fortified with heightened security in the wake of a brutal attack at a diversity festival in nearby Bad Freienwalde. The local authorities will bolster their presence, as right-wing extremists have been instigating counter-protests, with similar incidents registered in Berlin-Marzahn.
CSDs in Germany have seen an escalating number of queerphobic attacks in recent years, as radical far-right groups voice their opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. The second annual CSD in Eberswald is meant to send a bold message that hate will not deter the queer community from celebrating their identity and advocating for equality. The colorful demonstration kicks off at 1:00 PM, with estimates putting the attendance between 1,500 to 2,000 participants, surpassing the 1,000 that turned up at the inaugural event last year.
Eberswalde's city leadership promotes the CSD as a showcase of societal openness and empathy, recognizing that it will not be universally welcomed. They appeal for calm in the face of adversity.
Following a thorough review of the situation after the attack in Bad Freienwalde, police will deploy extra forces to ensure public safety and maintain order. State protection officers and canine units will also be on standby.
Meanwhile, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to host a summer festival on Eberswalde's market square at 3:00 PM, with its state chairman, René Springer, present. Local AfD members have called for a ban on the rainbow flag at public buildings like the town hall. The state AfD is currently labeled as a suspected right-wing extremist case by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, with a final classification pending due to ongoing legal disputes.
The queer community is eager to make its presence known, particularly in rural regions like Brandenburg. Beyond Eberswalde, CSDs are planned for July in Falkensee, Wittenberge, Luckenwalde, Neuruppin, Bad Belzig, and Bernau bei Berlin.
Historically, Christopher Street Days have commemorated the Stonewall Riots of June 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, marking celebrations of LGBTQ+ identities and calls for equal rights and acceptance. As incidents of queerphobia have risen in Germany, these events have become increasingly important to combat prejudice and demand inclusion.
The heightened security at the second Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Eberswalde is a response to the escalating number of queerphobic attacks in recent years, as radical far-right groups voice their opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to host a summer festival on Eberswalde's market square, calling for a ban on the rainbow flag at public buildings, despite being labeled as a suspected right-wing extremist case by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
