Overview

• The Pride demonstration took place Saturday with crowds gathering from 13:00 at the Bergbaumuseum before the march set off after the planned 14:00 start.
• The route included a stop for a rally at Springerplatz and concluded with a final gathering at the Schauspielhaus.
• Local police had prepared for around 3,000 participants, while WAZ reporting counted roughly 5,000 on the streets.
• The event returned after the 2024 cancellation linked to a large anti-AfD protest in nearby Essen.
• Organizers began fundraising in March and emphasized a volunteer, political CSD independent of parties and corporate sponsors.