Right-wing extremists plan to create disarray at the Pride event in Berlin-Marzahn
German Queer Pride Under Threat as Right-Wing Extremists Plan Rally
Get ready for a heated showdown in Berlin-Marzahn on June 21st. A newly-emerged far-right group, the "German Youth Forward," has announced a rally, targeting the city's LGBTQ+ community under the guise of the "6th Marzahn Pride."
On Instagram, these right-wing extremists announced their gathering of 300 participants, under the slogan "Against Identity Confusion and Gender Madness." Their proposed route? From the Rewe/dm car park in Alt-Marzahn to the Victor Klemperer Square, clashing with the "6th Marzahn Pride" parade organized by the queer community.
Berlin's Senator for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity, and Anti-Discrimination, Cansel Kiziltepe, doesn't mince words: "I view with great concern how the colorful Pride parade in Marzahn is to be disrupted by neo-Nazis. This must not happen! The Marzahn Pride is a peaceful and colorful festival of the queer community! We will show a united stand and clear stance together!"
Far-Right Group with Dark Roots
The right-wing extremist group "German Youth Forward" might be new to the scene, but it's already causing concern among authorities. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, it counts members in the low three-digits, and is well-connected with organizations like "Young & Strong," "The Disruptive Troop," the "Young Nationalists," and the party "The Homeland" (formerly NPD) as well as "The Third Way."
Attacks on Queer Events Across Germany
Unfortunately, brutal attacks on queer events are becoming all too common in Germany, particularly in the east. CSD parades are a prime target for extremists.
Recent iterations of this hateful trend include the attack on a festival in Bad Freienwalde (Märkisch-Oderland) with the motto "For a colorful Bad Freienwalde." Severely masked individuals brandished wooden sticks and striking tools, leaving two men aged 54 and 47 injured. Despite this, preliminary investigations reveal at least one more victim.
The assailants fled before the police arrived, and authorities are now investigating up to fifteen suspects for disturbing public order and causing bodily harm.
Berlin's police spokesman Florian Nath assures, "We are watching events like those in Bad Freienwalde very closely, will adjust our forces accordingly, and secure the event against any kind of disturbance."
Queer Rights Under Fire
Germany's history of right-wing extremist violence includes attacks on minorities, with the LGBTQ+ community increasingly becoming a target. In the 21st century, this hostility extends to suppressing queer events and spaces, expressing far-right opposition to LGBTQ+ acceptance and rights.
Far-right groups, like German Youth Forward and The Homeland, maintain questioning ideologies that challenge traditional values, gender roles, and diversity. These belief systems frame LGBTQ+ rights as threats to German identity and social order. Armed with these ideologies, extremists seek to quash queer visibility and activism, intensifying their pushback during broader cultural and political debates on LGBTQ+ rights in Germany and Europe.
Despite challenging times for the queer community, Germany's response includes enhanced security measures at pride parades and queer gatherings, heightened monitoring of extremist groups, and vocal outrage against hate crimes. Government policies aim to ban extremist organizations and prosecute hate crimes effectively. Meanwhile, civil society groups and LGBTQ+ organizations champion awareness campaigns, legal assistance, and solidarity actions, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding queer rights and spaces.
However, critics warn that addressing the increasing menace of far-right extremism requires swift and effective early intervention strategies and the dismantling of extremist networks to ensure a brighter future for Germany's LGBTQ+ community[1][2].
[1] "Extremist Attacks on the LGBTQ+ Community: An Assessment of the Growing Threat in Germany," Institute for Strategic Dialogue.[2] "Fact Sheet: Right-Wing Extremism and the LGBTQ+ Community in Germany," Amnesty International.
In light of the announced rally by the right-wing extremist group, "German Youth Forward," targeting the LGBTQ+ community at the 6th Marzahn Pride, it's alarming that this group has connections with organizations like "Young & Strong," "The Disruptive Troop," the "Young Nationalists," and the party "The Homeland" (formerly NPD) as well as "The Third Way." As attacks on queer events across Germany, including the recent incident in Bad Freienwalde, demonstrate, it's essential to bolster security measures at upcoming events like the Pride parade and enhance monitoring of extremist groups to protect the rights and safety of the LGBTQ+ community.
