- Law Enforcement Affirms: The Christopher Street Day Celebrations in Plauen are Progressing Without Incident
Authorities Give Thumbs Up for CSD in Plauen, Registering 430 Attendees
The authorities have applauded the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Plauen, with a grand total of 430 attendees. The event on Saturday went off without a hitch, as reported by a police spokesperson. Minor altercations ensued post-event, with one individual being subjected to insults and another feeling threatened. Around eighteen individuals from a counter-protest were apprehended for inciting hatred. The heavy police presence was necessitated following right-wing extremists' targeting of CSD attendees in Bautzen during the initial week of August, with an estimated 250 officers, including riot police and federal police, being deployed.
SPD Secretary General Kevin Kühnert and Saxon Social Minister Petra Köpping (SPD), who also serves as her party's top nominee for the state election and is responsible for social cohesion in the state government, graced the CSD.
Counter-protest Remains Low in Attendees
As per police records, seventy-five individuals assembled for a demonstration against the CSD. The assembly leader and his deputy were deemed unreliable, thereby preventing a scheduled assembly, as announced. The initial assembly permit was revoked, and a procession was not granted approval. Instead, only a stationary assembly was sanctioned, which ended prematurely. The participants were prohibited from approaching the CSD assembly.
The police also barred a spontaneous protest that two individuals intended to hold. That group was restricted from the city center and the duration of the CSD.
The Christopher Street Day is an annual event held in numerous cities worldwide to commemorate occurrences that took place on June 28, 1969, in New York. Police raided a bar situated on Christopher Street, sparking multi-day protests initiated by gays, lesbians, and transgender individuals, among others. The CSD is a tribute to their rights.
The SPD Secretary General Kevin Kühnert and Saxon Social Minister Petra Köpping, who attended the CSD, commended the successful execution of the demonstration. Despite the low turnout for the counter-protest, with only seventy-five individuals assembling, minor disruptions occurred, necessitating police intervention.
