Von Trauer zu Wut zu Widerstand
From Grief to Rage to Resistance
Following the attack during Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin on 26 July 2026 where 1 person was killed, and 31 others were injured, the attacker was also later killed by Berlin Polizei.
A vigil was held at the Brandenburg Gate in solidarity with those affected by the attack and with the families and friends of the victims. Members of the queer community and their allies gathered to mourn, express their grief and anger, and support one another.
On 2 August 2026, queer collectives and their allies organised a large demonstration in Berlin under the slogan “Von Trauer zu Wut zu Widerstand” (From Grief to Rage to Resistance). Thousands took to the streets to honour the victims and turn their grief into collective resistance.
Speakers from different collectives called for unity and continued struggle against homophobia, transphobia, lesbophobia, queerphobia, and rising fascism in Germany. The demonstration also condemned government cuts to queer support structures, warning that the loss of funding threatens counselling centres, safe spaces, youth and healthcare programmes, and anti-discrimination projects.
A major focus was the rejection of attempts to politically exploit the attack and queer grief. Speakers criticised politicians and mainstream media for using the tragedy to promote Islamophobic, anti-Arab and anti-migrant narratives or to stigmatise Muslim and migrant communities. Participants also spoke against right-wing propaganda and “rainbow washing”, symbolic gestures of LGBTQIA+ support without meaningful political action.
The demonstration further addressed mainstream media hate campaigns, political repression, and police violence against queer activists, including activists involved in the anti-genocide movement.
The message was clear: grief must become resistance and solidarity rather than division and hatred. In the face of increasing queer and transphobic violence, rising fascism, racism, and the dismantling of queer support structures, participants stressed the importance of grassroots organising and communities defending and supporting one another.
The demonstration reaffirmed a commitment to confronting all forms of queer discrimination, violence, racism, and hatred through solidarity, collective action, and resistance.
