Christopher Street Day: “Never quiet again” – CSD in Berlin with a political focus

No rainbow flag on the Bundestag, but tens of thousands of people on the streets: this year’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin is under the motto “Never again” and is accompanied by tens of thousands of people. The demonstration has a political focus, with clear demands for equality and protection queer. Nevertheless, there is an exuberant party mood: there is loud music, shrill costumes and numerous rainbow flags.

According to the CSD board, several hundreds of thousands of people are on the street. “The demonstration was as big as it has not been for a long time,” it said in a statement. With a little delay, the train had started to move around 12.30 p.m. Much of the trucks and groups have not yet reached the final goal at the Brandenburg Gate around 5 p.m.

Numerous allusions to “circus tent” statement

A central topic is the controversy around the rainbow flag on the Bundestag. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner had prohibited the flag’s hoist what Chancellor Friedrich Merz (both CDU) defended with the words “The Bundestag is not a circus tent”. This statement triggered broad criticism and is satirically taken up on many posters – for example with sayings such as “exactly my circus” or “welcome to the circus tent of love, law and freedom, Mr. Merz”. Under cheers, Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour (Greens) welcomed the participants with the words “Hello, circus!” – Apparently in alluding to Merz.

Unlike in previous years, the queer rainbow network of the Bundestag administration does not participate in the CSD this year. The top of the administrative had prohibited the group. In protest against this decision, some participants have signs with them that says: “Unfortunately we are not there – the rainbow network of the Bundestag administration would have run here”.

Political core should be strengthened

Thomas Hoffmann, board member of the Berlin CSD, told the German press agency to crumble the solidarity of leading politicians in Germany. “We will continue to stay on the street until we have achieved equality.” This year the political core of the demonstration should be strengthened again. Several demonstrators emphasize that they are particularly important to them this year.

The police had announced that it would be in use with around 1,300 forces. There are also around 1,000 private security forces and around 280 paramedics.

Arrests in a small counter -demonstration

On the edge of the CSD there was a right-wing extremist counter-demonstration “against the CSD terror”. However, according to the police, the group had little to oppose the tens of thousands of CSD celebrants. The participants had banners of the group “German Youth forward”, which the Berlin constitutional protection classifies as a right -wing extremist and violent -oriented. The event was shielded from the CSD by the police with bars, cars and emergency services.

There were individual restrictions on freedom, among other things, because of the use of indicators of unconstitutional organizations and the violation of the Weapons Act. Even before the rally, the police had arrested six people on their way to the counter -demonstration – including the applicant -, among other things, because of violations of the Weapons Act and the Sprenve Act as well as for anti -constitutional license plates. A second planned right demonstration in the afternoon was canceled.

A large final rally and live music is planned for the evening until midnight. The German Girlgroup Monrose (“Hot Summer”) is said to appear as one of the main acts, which, according to the organizers, has not been on stage for more than ten years.