Pride parade in Marzahn: 2000 participants defy neo-Nazi protests!

Pride parade in Marzahn: 2000 participants defy neo-Nazi protests!

Last Saturday, June 22, 2025, the sixth “Marzahn Pride” parade took place in Berlin under the motto “We are different. We stand together.” Over 2,000 people gathered on the Avenue of Cosmonauts to demonstrate for diversity and acceptance. The colorful procession finally moved to Victor-Klemperer-Platz, where the parade ended with a joyful street party. The Daily Mirror reports that many participants appeared in leather gear or even bear costumes and promoted an inclusive society with colorful signs such as “It’s ok to be gay” and “Be yourself”.

However, this was opposed by the mobilized right-wing extremists who had announced a counter-protest. The neo-Nazi group “German Youth Forward” (DJV) mobilized around 300 people who were present in Marzahn-Mitte on the same day and joined a “local rally”. About 50 of them, wearing sweatshirts with provocative prints, chanted conspicuously discriminatory slogans such as “Whether East, whether West – down with the red plague.” The Süddeutsche Zeitung highlights that the police had ordered the neo-Nazis to leave the square while around 30 officers kept the situation under control.

Confrontation and security

The dissatisfaction of the neo-Nazi demonstrators was reflected, among other things, in their aggression towards the participants of the “Marzahn Pride”. Before the parade began, two supporters were arrested with the intention of attacking a passerby with a rainbow flag. Police remained on alert and supported the Pride event with several police vehicles to prevent a direct encounter. Despite the tense situation, some participants reported that the mood was subdued and that fears of right-wing extremist attacks played a role.

A Pride participant, Norbert Gisinger-Daubenberger, said he was motivated by the counter-protest, and Quarteera organizers released a visibility manifesto warning of the increasing radicalization of society. These concerns are reinforced by statements from Misbah Khan, a Green Party MP, who described the increased threats to the queer community as worrying. The daily news reports that an increase in right-wing extremist disruptive actions against CSD events can be observed nationwide.

An urgent call for solidarity

While a strong police presence was deployed in Marzahn to protect the Pride participants, a Christopher Street Day also took place in Eberswalde with increased security precautions. Over 1,000 people gathered where there was a heavy police presence to prevent any possible disruption. Participants expressed numerous security concerns in the context of current attacks on such events. Last year, a summer festival for diversity in Bad Freienwalde was attacked by masked attackers, resulting in injuries. This year too, right-wing extremist attacks noticeably reduced the enjoyment of the events.

As in many cities in Germany where CSDs are held, people feel increasingly vulnerable. A circumstance that is not least due to the fact that the AfD appeared in Eberswalde with a counter-event to the CSD demo, where they caused a stir with the slogan “No early sexualization of children and against indoctrination”. Despite these challenges, the call for support from prominent politicians and society remains to defend freedom and democracy in all areas.

The upcoming CSDs in Brandenburg in July will also be marked by increased security precautions, and a rethink is urgently needed in order to preserve the vision of diversity and acceptance and to take action against the growing right-wing extremist movements.