Published: Just now
The authorities banned the Europride parade through Belgrade – but the organizers intend to march anyway.
At the same time, right-wing extremists are feared to be organizing to “act against the LGBT pro-gag spirit”.
– Their goal is not a gay parade but the re-education of our children, says the leader of the right-wing party Dveri.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić recently announced that Europride in the country, which was supposed to take place on September 17, would be cancelled, which was reported by the majority of Serbian media.
On Tuesday, the government banned the parade with the justification “risk of violence”, write Balkan Insight. This as a result of far-right, anti-lbtq+ groups announcing that they would also march on the same day. The police also prohibited this.
In connection with the organizers of Europride stating that the parade will go ahead as planned, several far-right groups have now announced that they will protest on Saturday, even despite the ban.
On social media, right-wing extremists are now urging people to gather outside several churches. The big gathering is planned in front of the big St Sava Church in central Belgrade.
“Defend us against LGBT propaganda”
In a telegram, the neo-fascist organization “Serbian Action” urged people to be on alert.
“Orthodox Serbs who participated in the triple magnificent walk and prayer must not sleep now, but carefully monitor the situation and be ready to act on Saturday if necessary,” they wrote, referring to a previous anti-Europride walk.
Earlier this week, People’s Patrols, a xenophobic right-wing organization known for attacking migrants and refugees, also called on people to gather in the city center early Saturday. This is to prevent the “tricky” Europride organizers from acting.
A Serbian member of parliament and leader of the right-wing Dveri party, Bosko Obradovic, also urged people to be “vigilant”.
– We must be ready to go out again and again for new family walks to defend our children from LGBT propaganda. Their goal is not a gay parade but the re-education of our children, and Christians, the family and traditional Serbia must know and prevent that, he said on Wednesday.
If Europride is held despite the ban, it is proof that Serbia is an EU and NATO colony, he claims.
EuroPride despite ban
Organizers remain optimistic that the pride parade will go ahead on Saturday and have now come up with a new alternative route for Europride. It is planned to go from the Constitutional Court to the Tasmajdan sports center in Belgrade, where a music concert will be held.
– We insist that Europride be held as we planned; there was not a single incident during the four days of pride week. We have been put in a situation where we do not have a choice; despite the police ban, we will gather, says Goran Miletic, one of the organizers to the newspaper.