Brno - What looked like a peaceful march to support the rights of gays and lesbians may turn out to be a violent and not-so-peaceful event.
The first ever Queer Parade in the Czech Republic, to be held on June 28, is going to be protected by hundreds of policemen, as far-right groups are planning to disrupt Saturday's pro-alternative-sexuality march in Brno.
As soon as an anti-fascist group called Antifa officially expressed its support for the Queer Parade, Czech neo-Nazi groups, their sworn enemies, announced they would come to the Saturday event to protest.
"Let's show these sexual deviants where our tolerance stands," the National Resistance group's website challenges their members to take to the streets of Brno.
The group's website is also calling for a uniform image - black attire, a hood and black sunglasses.
READ MORE: First Czech Gay Pride has Brno up in arms
Police in town
Czech police have been monitoring the far right extremists´ as well as anti-fascists´ action.
"For safety reasons we will not say how many policemen we will deploy to the streets of Brno," said Brno´s police spokesperson Andrea Procházková.
Typically, police use all means possible during similar marches where clashes of extremists are a threat. Brno police assured they would deploy adequate numbers to prevent any clashes between the extremist groups.
Organizers not surprised
Neo-Nazis´ plan to protest against the Czech Queer Parade did not take the parade organizers by surprise.
"We are their new enemy. It is obvious they want to use the Saturday march to make themselves visible again," says parade's spokesperson Jolana Navrátilová.
According to her, neo-Nazis´ protests against homosexuals are typical of countries like Poland, which is largely Catholic, but not in Western Europe.
Brno´s City Hall has supported the Queer Parade, having condemned the neo-Nazis´ protest.
"I will make sure Saturday's march, which is legal and seeks to promote openness and tolerance, will not be disturbed by anybody," stated Brno deputy mayor of and Green party representative Martin Ander.
