CSD in Bautzen: Police expect up to 3,000 participants

The police are expecting an increased risk of violent confrontations at this year's Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Bautzen in eastern Saxony on Sunday (August 10). Between 2,000 and 3,000 participants are expected at the demonstration for the rights of gays, lesbians and trans people, a spokesperson for the police headquarters in Görlitz told the German Press Agency on request.

In addition to the CSD itself, six other gatherings of supporters have been registered to join the CSD parade, as well as a counter-demonstration. Their approximately 300 to 700 participants also want to follow the demonstration procession.

Police draw on experiences from 2024

Police believe that people from both groups are prepared to use violence and are openly seeking confrontation. Spontaneous - verbal, but also physical - violence between demonstrators from the right-wing and left-wing spectrum is very likely. "This creates an increased risk situation", said the police spokesperson.

A preparatory group was set up at the Görlitz police headquarters to plan the police operation. The experiences from CSD 2024 will also be taken into account.

According to the police, there were already violent clashes between rally participants from both sides on arrival at Dresden main station. The atmosphere outside Bautzen station was very heated during the CSD and afterwards.

Police on large-scale deployment

The police have announced that they will therefore be deploying even more police officers to the CSD on Sunday than last year in order to ensure a peaceful event and consistently prosecute possible criminal offenses.

The CSD starts at August-Bebel-Platz, the final rally is planned for Rathenauplatz. Considerable traffic restrictions are therefore to be expected in the city center on Saturday. Drivers should avoid the assembly area in any case, the police advise.

Last year, there were right-wing extremist protests in Bautzen on the occasion of Christopher Street Day, which were characterized by aggression and violence against CSD participants.

Christopher Street Day commemorates the clashes between the queer community and the police on New York's Christopher Street in 1969. The day stands for visibility and equality for people who do not identify with the traditional roles of men and women or other traditional gender and sexual norms.