Two weeks after the Islamist attack on the sidelines of Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin, organizers of CSD demonstrations are reporting increased attendance - even at rallies away from major cities. According to police, at least 6,000 people demonstrated for queer rights in Braunschweig. That was significantly more than usual. In recent years, officials have counted between 4,500 and 5,000 participants.
“There are also many non-queer people who want to show their solidarity to the community,” said Björn Waldmann from the Braunschweig CSD organization team to the epd news agency. The CSD is “more political than in previous years”. After the Berlin attack, there was a “now-more-now” mood in the air.
Tightened security precautions
The Christopher Street Day in Nuremberg also set a record with more than 20,000 participants. Under the motto “Nuremberg loves,” more than 60 groups marched through the city center to set an example for visibility, equality and against anti-queer sentiment. The police estimated the final number of demonstrators in the afternoon at around 23,000 people. The demonstration was peaceful and without incident.
As in Nuremberg and Braunschweig, the police also sharpened their security concept at the RuhrPride in Essen after the Berlin attack. According to the police, at least 3,500 people took part in the demonstration in the North Rhine-Westphalian city. The train started at the Grugahalle at midday. The parade took place in the afternoon without any special incidents. The organizers expect around 12,000 people to attend the entire CSD over the course of the day.
There was also a huge turnout last weekend
A similar picture was already evident last weekend - at both large and small rallies: The Hamburg CSD - the first large one after the attack in Berlin - recorded a new high with around 300,000 participants. More people than expected also came to the CSD in Kempten im Allgäu last weekend - a good 2,500.
In the terrorist attack on July 25, the Islamist attacker drove a car into a group of people in Berlin's Großer Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate and then crashed the vehicle into the tree. One woman was killed and at least 31 people were injured, some seriously. A day later, police shot the suspected assassin in Berlin-Spandau while trying to arrest him.
Minute of silence in Prague
The victims of the attack were also remembered in Prague. A minute's silence took place right at the beginning of the Pride demonstration in the Czech capital. Tens of thousands of people then marched through the city center to demand equal rights for sexual minorities.
