Belgrade anti-gay riot

Clashes between Žandarmerija (Serbian Gendarmerie) and anti-gay rioters

The Belgrade anti-gay riot was an incident of violence against LGBT people that occurred on 10 October 2010 during a pride parade, organized to promote LGBT rights in Serbia. The gay pride parade has been the first in Belgrade since 2001;[1] a planned parade in 2009 was cancelled due to the threat of violence.[1]

Anti-gay rioters fought with about 5,000 armed police,[2] throwing Molotov cocktails, bricks, stones, glass bottles and firecrackers;[3] the police used tear gas and rubber bullets.[1] There were no fatalities.[1]

Results

Clashes between Žandarmerija (Serbian Gendarmerie) and anti-gay rioters

Police said that 78 police officers and 17 civilians had been injured,[3] and 101 people had been detained for violent behaviour.[3] The garage of the building of the ruling pro-western Democratic Party was set ablaze, and state TV building and the headquarters of other political parties were also damaged.[4] The parade was viewed as a test for the government of Serbia, which has stated it will protect human rights in Serbia as it seeks to become an EU member.[4] Jelko Kacin, presiding over the European Union's evaluation of Serbia, said that Serbia's failure to stop the riot could damage its bid to join the EU.[5] During a visit to Belgrade two days after the riot, US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, praised the Serbian government for protecting the human rights of the parade participants.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lowen, Mark (10 October 2010). "Scores arrested in Belgrade after anti-gay riot". BBC News.
  2. ↑ VASOVIC, ALEKSANDAR (10 October 2010). "Anti-gay riots rock Belgrade". Toronto Sun.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 GEC, JOVANA (10 October 2010). "Protesters hurl Molotov cocktails, injure 100 at Serbian gay-pride march". The Globe and Mail.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Serbia police clash with far-right rioters at gay pride march". London: guardian.co.uk/Associated Press. 10 October 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 STOJANOVIC, DUSAN (11 October 2010). "Official: Anti-gay riots send wrong message to EU". MSNBC. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Clinton praises Serbia's progress, new leaders". The Washington Post. 12 October 2010.
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