Once again, 65 REWE employees from stores, administration and logistics joined forces with REWE Group's LGBTIQ network "di.to" to demonstrate for more diversity and democracy at Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Leipzig. Around 1,000 participants also marched behind the REWE truck.
A total of 20,000 people demonstrated together, colourfully and peacefully in the Saxon city under the motto "Live diversity. Defend democracy." for queer rights.
"There could not have been a better motto for the counter-demonstration by right-wing groups. At no other CSD parade have we managed to gather such a large crowd behind our truck and send a clear signal in favour of diversity and tolerance," said Leipzig REWE store manager Tim Sander.
In eastern Germany, however, di.to is not only active in major cities such as Leipzig. Tobias Koch, national di.to. spokesperson: "It is particularly important for us as a network to be visible in smaller cities, for example in Pirna and Schwerin this year in addition to Leipzig. The CSD demonstrations here are often smaller and threatened by counter-protests and need our support all the more.
In Leipzig at least, the counter-protest by right-wing groups did not manage to disrupt the CSD demonstration. No attacks or acts of violence were reported.
Both German and English comments appear here.
It's great that something like this is possible at Rewe.