As of: 07/03/2022 5:29 p.m
The demonstration for Christopher Street Day started in Cologne on Sunday afternoon with many visitors. Around 180 groups – as many as never before – pull through the crowd of spectators in the city center in wagons or on foot.
The organizers expect at least 800,000 people during the day. “There is a very lively influx,” said a police spokeswoman for the German press agency dpa. So far everything has been going smoothly. The Cologne CSD is one of the largest events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community in Europe.
After a year of Corona break, there is a lot of catching up to do among the revelers. In 2020, due to the pandemic, there was a much smaller version of the festival in the KölnArena and a bicycle demo. In 2021 the CSD was completely canceled due to Corona.
Prime Minister Wüst opens the CSD parade
For the first time in the roughly 30-year history of the Cologne CSD, a prime minister spoke there. Hendrik Wüst (CDU) said at the opening that with the parade Cologne was “sending a strong signal for diversity, for tolerance, against hate and against exclusion”. Incidents like the recent one in Oslo show that unfortunately it is still necessary to set such signals.
An attacker shot dead two people and injured 21 in front of a popular gay bar in Oslo last weekend.
Best party weather with sunshine
Rainbows would fit in the sky, but are hardly to be expected. On Sunday there will be a lot of sun and harmless clouds. At 25 to 28 degrees it mostly stays dry.
Mayor of Cologne condemns violence and hostility towards homosexuals
Cologne’s mayor Henriette Reker at the start of the CSD
Image: dpa / Federico Gambarini
Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker (non-party) had sharply condemned violence and hostilities against homosexuals at the opening on Friday. “Whether Oslo or Istanbul – homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable – never and nowhere,” said Reker.
The message of acceptance and appreciation should go out from Cologne this weekend. “With one of the largest Pride events in Europe, we are focusing on diversity as a strength and opportunity for our society.”
One joy, the other sorrow
Motorists must Cologne continue to expect closures. Many roads will be closed from Saturday. The inner city, the old town, Deutz and the Deutzer Bridge are particularly affected.
More tracks at the KVB
There may also be closures and delays on the KVB lines 1, 7 and 9. The KVB drive according to the Sunday timetable. However, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. they increase the train traffic every 15 minutes between Junkersdorf and the town hall in Deutz on the route of line 1. More trains run between Niehl and the Messe-Osthallen, the KVB set one especially for line set up that day.
Police increase security
For the weekend, the police increased the number of officers. The background is the attack in Oslo last week. Two people were killed there in front of a bar popular with homosexuals.
Source: wdr.de