Proposal sought for legislation safeguarding workers from radiation hazards
In the heart of Berlin, the 47th Christopher Street Day (CSD) march took place under the motto "Never silent again". With over 81 floats, 79 walking groups, and approximately 1,300 police officers from various states, the atmosphere was largely peaceful and lively. However, the event was marred by incidents of violence and arrests, particularly at Alexanderplatz station and Kreuzberg.
The first significant incident occurred around 11 AM at Alexanderplatz station, where six individuals were arrested for using symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, violating the explosives act, and insulting others.
The assembly in Kreuzberg, which followed later in the day, saw a larger turnout, with around 10,000 people participating, including 800 with pro-Palestinian connections. The event took a turn for the worse when 17 police officers were injured due to attacks with bottles, paint bombs, flagpoles, and deliberate punches. The assembly was ordered to be dissolved due to deliberate criminal acts and a conscious escalation. As a result, 57 individuals were deprived of their liberty, and 17 were later released.
One officer was injured during the incident at Friedrichstraße, and a man holding a rainbow flag with a Star of David was assaulted at the Ben-Gurion Street corner Potsdamer Street during the CSD march.
The counter-protest in Kreuzberg had a peak of 40 participants, and slogans were chanted. The remaining 15 individuals were escorted by federal police officers.
U-Bahn stations Bülowstraße, Nollendorfplatz, Brandenburg Gate, and Bundestag were temporarily closed from 3:35 PM onwards. Around 6 PM, 19 former participants gathered near the S-Bahn station Friedrichstraße for an impromptu gathering, which was prohibited by the police chief. Three individuals resisted and were temporarily detained, including the event organizer who had been previously released from custody.
A group of people with pro-Palestinian slogans were allowed to line up in front of a float without any criminal content in the march at around 5:30 PM.
The escalating tensions during Pride events in recent years in Berlin can be partly attributed to complex social dynamics involving migrant communities from conservative backgrounds, where hostility towards queer people can be more normalized, leading to verbal and physical conflicts with police or others during such events.
Despite these incidents, the CSD march in Berlin continued to be a vibrant celebration of diversity and the LGBTQ+ community, underscoring the importance of unity and the fight for equal rights.
- The assembly in Kreuzberg, during the CSD march, was marked by violence and arrests, as 17 police officers were injured and 57 individuals were deprived of their liberty due to attacks with various objects and deliberate criminal acts.
- In the realm of social media, the incidents of violence and arrests during the CSD march in Berlin sparked intense discussions around the complex social dynamics involving migrant communities and the struggle for equal rights, with the LGBTQ+ community stressing the need for unity and continued celebrations of diversity.
