CSD in Landshut under increased security precautions

This year’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) will take place in Landshut from Saturday afternoon. With the CSD, the organizers of the “Queer in Lower Bavaria” association want to promote diversity, tolerance and equality: first with a parade through Landshut’s old town, with rallies and celebrations.

Up to 2,000 participants are expected. This year the event will be accompanied by increased security precautions.

400 counter-demonstrators registered

The reason for this is a counter-demonstration registered by a private individual. The participants are said to be close to the “Jung&Stark” group, which is considered right-wing extremist. According to BR research, the Bavarian activists from “Jung&Stark” want to demonstrate more against Christopher Street Day parades, including in Landshut.

400 counter-demonstrators were registered with the police. They want to move from Landshut main station to the city before the CSD begins and hold a rally on the Mühleninsel on the Isar.

Hundreds of police officers secure the event

The police in Landshut will secure the event together with riot police officers and other associations, said spokesman Thomas Germowitz in an interview with BR24. According to a spokesman, the federal police are increasing their presence in the area of ​​Landshut main train station, where both CSD participants and participants in the counter-demonstration are expected. Overall, according to BR information, a high three-digit number of police officers will be on site in Landshut.

Hoping for a peaceful outcome

Herbert Lohmeyer from the “Queer in Lower Bavaria” association explained in an interview with BR24 that he was still preparing for a peaceful event: “Nevertheless, the situation is of course a little more tense than usual. All participants are paying increased attention. Nevertheless, I have a good feeling.” We had very good discussions with everyone and implemented a good safety concept.

The head of the Landshut public order office, Benedikt Neumeier, also refers to numerous cooperation discussions in preparation for a safe day.

The mayor rejected the counter-event

In 2019, Christopher Street Day was held in Landshut for the first time. Mayor Alexander Putz (CSU), who is also patron of the CSD, explained in advance that there was no reason to create a mood against the “peaceful and happy” event. “Apparently there is a new group that can be found on the far right of the political spectrum behind this planned action, which I personally strongly reject.”

As patron of the CSD, he believes it is all the more important to take a clear stand, said Putz. This will also be visible in the city, among other things, the town hall will be decorated with rainbow flags.

Second mayor promotes tolerance

Counter-demonstrations have to be endured in a democracy, explained Landshut’s second mayor, Thomas Haslinger (CSU), in an interview with BR24. However, he has no understanding of what happened on Saturday. “Personally, I think it’s a shame that in 2024 we in Germany will have to talk about which life plan someone chooses. We live here in a free democratic country. It is right that a CSD is brought to life and that everyone can take part in it, even if it is not my personal life plan.

Young right-wing extremists under surveillance

As early as August, the Central Franconian police BR research carried out so-called threats to young activists from “Jung&Stark”. The Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BayLfV) is also monitoring the group. The domestic secret service is also monitoring the social media relationships of the nationwide group “Jung&Stark” with “other youth groups from the right-wing extremist spectrum” such as the Young Nationalists or the Young Alternative for Germany (JA). According to BayLfV, there are also corresponding connections to the AfD faction in the Bundestag and to the Die Heimat party, which until recently was called the NPD.

Homophobia – a core component of right-wing thought

“Homophobia is and has always been a core component of the right-wing extremist scene,” says Constantin Wurthmann, professor of comparative politics at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. For him, a folkish idea contains precise guidelines about appearances and behavior.

Due to the events and the police presence, there may be traffic disruptions in Landshut. When asked by BR, Deutsche Bahn explained that it was currently preparing for regular operations, but there could be short-term restrictions.