Saturday’s march of LGBTQ+ people and their allies ended in success in Görlitz and Zgorzelec. More than 900 people took part in the parade, most of them German nationals. The march was organized by Pole Wojciech Urlich, who lives and works on the German side of the border on a daily basis.
The mayors of both cities attended the event: Rafał Gronicz of Zgorzelec and Benedikt M. Hummel of Görlitz.
– “We are all made of the same clay.” It is difficult to deny this, but unfortunately it still needs to be repeated. Yesterday, a colorful, peaceful march of young and mature people—above all, people with a positive attitude toward life—walked from Goerlitz to Zgorzelec and back to Goerlitz. They were residents of the European City, as could easily be heard. Its only message is: “We are all made of the same clay,” wrote Zgorzelec Mayor Rafał Gronicz.
– I was at this fantastic march. The heads of both cities, Görlitz and Zgorzelec, were there. The Mayor of Zgorzelec pointed out the slogan originating from Bolesławiec, namely that we are all made of the same clay. I am glad that these words are being received so well. It is a shame that in Bolesławiec, President Piotr Roman was bothered by a banner bearing this slogan. It turns out that in the city of ceramics we have a president who—in terms of promoting equality for people of different sexual orientations—has not grown into the role of head of a European city, says Krzysztof Gwizdała from the istotne.pl portal.
There was also a counterdemonstration in Görlitz, just as in Bolesławiec. However, instead of hooligans, it involved people linked to individuals with Nazi views. The event proceeded in a good atmosphere, and there were no incidents. Police in both countries provided security.