by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The Zagreb (Croatia) Pride Organizational Committee is upset with how the police behaved at the June 13 pride parade.
"The police violated human and civil rights on multiple occasions, permitted an unconstitutional fascist gathering, permitted hate speech and, therefore, drastically decreased democratic standards of public assembly that have been established in the past years through work and cooperation with the police," the group said in a statement.
Organizers said that counterprotesters were allowed to illegally chant "Kill, kill faggots" and "Faggots to concentration camps" at Ban Jelacic Square, the center of the city.
The organizers also charged that police took no action against people who spit on and threw things at the marchers.
The committee vowed to take the matter up with "the European Commission, embassies of EU (European Union) countries, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe."
Between 700 and 800 people marched, the committee said, making it "undoubtedly the largest Pride March so far."
"We have shown and proved, for the eighth year in a row, to the entire society what a peaceful assembly is, by expressing our dignity, courage and pride despite intimidation and the permitting of an undemocratic and unconstitutional gathering on Ban Jelacic Square," the organization said.
