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People’s patrols combine staunch Serbian nationalism with xenophobia. Photo: BIRN/ Marija Vucic.
A Serbian MP and leader of the right-wing Dveri party, Bosko Obradovic, on Wednesday, called on people to remain “vigilant”, saying the prohibited EuroPride walk may yet go ahead on Saturday despite the official ban on the event by the police.
“We need to be ready to go out again and again for new processions and family walks to defend our children from LGBT propaganda. Their goal is not a gay parade but the re-education of our children, and Christian, family and traditional Serbia must know and prevent that,” Obradovic said.
Several right-wing groups also announced protests on Saturday, although the police have banned their gatherings as well.
On different social media networks, people have been urged to gather in front of several churches in Belgrade. The main gathering is scheduled in front of the huge St Sava church in the city centre.
People’s Patrols, a xenophobic right-wing organization known for attacking migrants and refugees, called on people to gather from early on Saturday morning in the city centre to prevent the “cunning” EuroPride organizers from making a move.
“We have so many churches in the very center of Belgrade where we can gather for the morning liturgy, so God will help, we will fill the streets of the capital city with the holy cross. We are of the opinion that it is a small sacrifice to set aside the morning and afternoon for the defence of family and religion,” they said on their Telegram page.
Serbia’s government on Tuesday banned the planned EuroPride 2022 march in Belgrade, citing a “risk of violence” after right-wing, anti-LGBT groups announced they would also march through the Serbian capital. Police banned the right-wing protests as well.
The decision followed weeks of anti-LGBT agitation from the Serbian Orthodox Church and right-wing groups.
Despite the hostility and the police ban, EuroPride organizers have not given up.
They have said they will try to negotiate a different route for the walk with institutions. They also emphasized they plan to walk on Saturday no matter what, claiming that the ban of is unconstitutional and that the state should not have forbidden their celebration because of the threats of violence.
