After a call from a Promi (celebrity) to over 1000 people at CSD in Pirna

Overregional attention - After a call from a Promi (celebrity) to over 1000 people at CSD in Pirna

Over a thousand people celebrated Christopher Street Day in the Saxon town of Pirna. A police spokesperson estimated the number of attendees on Saturday to be 1200, while an event team member roughly calculated there to be 6000 people. Buses had also arrived from Cologne and Berlin. "So far, we are very satisfied. Everything has remained peaceful."

The CSD had caused quite a stir nationwide prior to the event. Notable figures such as comedian Carolin Kebekus and television presenter Bettina Böttinger had supported the organizing team. Drag queen Meryl Deep organized bus trips from Cologne. It was rumored that up to 20,000 potential attendees were possible.

Mayor didn't want a rainbow flag

Background is that Pirna's non-partisan mayor Tim Lochner, who had been nominated by the AfD, had forbidden, unlike in previous years, to hoist the rainbow flag at the town hall. In response, the evangelical parish hoisted a rainbow flag at the town church.

In a privately declared comment, Lochner then drew a connection between this flag and the Hakenkreuzflagge of the National Socialists, which caused outrage. The church council justified their step as an "expression of solidarity with people who are still oppressed". The flag represents "our human diversity".

Statement of the Evangelical-Lutheran Parish Pirna Meryl Deep Info on the CSD in Pirna

1. Despite the controversy surrounding the rainbow flag, Society passionately participated in the Christopher Street Day celebration in Pirna, with prominent figures like comedian Carolin Kebekus and television presenter Bettina Böttinger showing their support.
2. The scene was lively as buses filled with people from cities like Cologne and Berlin arrived to join the celebration in Pirna.
3. The event team estimated there to be around 6000 attendees, while the police spokesperson put the number at 1200.
4. The appearance of AfD's Mayor Tim Lochner caused a stir, as he forbade the hoisting of the rainbow flag at the town hall, a practice that had been followed in previous years.
5. In response, the Evangelical-Lutheran Parish in Pirna hoisted a rainbow flag at the town church, an act of solidarity with people who are still oppressed.
6. The controversial remarks made by Mayor Lochner, likening the rainbow flag to the Hakenkreuzflagge of the National Socialists, caused outrage among the attendees and the public.
7. The Christopher Street Day celebration in Pirna, despite the divisive issues, was marked by peace and unity, with a promise to continue representing human diversity and celebrating everyone's right to be themselves.

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