Rally in Bad Cannstatt: Flag raised after hate attacks!

Rally in Bad Cannstatt: Flag raised after hate attacks!

On Friday evening, May 30, 2025, a rally against hatred and violence took place in Bad Cannstatt. This event was organized in response to the repeated destruction of Pride flags at the Prisma Cultural Center. According to police, up to 150 people took part in the protest, but organizers said there were up to 300 participants. The rally had the motto “Solidarity with the Prism after the right-wing attacks” and was supported by various groups, including “Stuttgart gegen Rechts” and “Migrantifa Stuttgart”.

The Prisma cultural center has been the target of suspected right-wing attacks several times in recent weeks. As recently as April 26th and again on the night of May 26th, rainbow flags were torn from the balcony of the Sunny High Club. In one of these incidents, a flag on the sidewalk was cut while the other was set on fire. The Police State Security has taken over the investigation into these incidents. A passerby discovered the damaged flag and informed the police. These incidents are part of a worrying trend: the number of anti-queer attacks in Germany has increased significantly in recent years.

Make a strong statement

As part of the rally, a new rainbow flag was hoisted, measuring 1.80 meters high and 3 meters wide. This was placed higher to prevent theft. “We have to send a signal against the right,” emphasized spokeswoman Mara Busch. In her statements, she referred to the increasing anti-queer attacks and their new intensity. The event not only served to show solidarity with the Prism, but also to draw attention to the dangers that threaten LGBTQ+ people in today's society.

In the context of these events, the increase in anti-queer crimes in Germany is alarming. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office, a total of 1,785 crimes against LGBTIQ* people were recorded in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of around 50 percent compared to the 1,188 crimes of the previous year. The most common crimes are insults, acts of violence and threats. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser calls for consistent prosecution of this type of violence, while the number of unreported cases is statistically considered to be high.

The incident before the rally represents another worrying act that shows how tense the situation has become for the queer community. A student initiative had already pointed out the ongoing threat from extreme groups.

Overall, the joint mobilization of citizens is an important sign of solidarity that makes it clear that society must defend itself against the rise in violence and intolerance.

For more information about the incidents in Bad Cannstatt, see the reports Prisma Cultural Center and Stuttgart News can be read, while the comprehensive statistics on widespread anti-queer acts of violence can be found in the report by daily news be available.