Antonijevic: Loznica Pride Threats Are Not Dissent

The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijevic, today condemned the hate speech, threats, insults and attempted violence that accompanied the Pride caravan, particularly the incidents in Loznica, which he said had endangered the holding of the gathering and the safety of its participants.

In a statement, the commissioner said that everyone has the right to publicly voice disagreement, but that disagreement must never cross the line into a threat.

“Everyone has the right to advocate for their own rights, to disagree with something, and to voice that disagreement publicly. But threats, humiliation, hate speech and violence are not legitimate forms of expressing disagreement. They represent an assault on the rights and dignity of others. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, just like dignity and equality, belong to everyone. The very ability to protect the rights of those we disagree with is one of the measures of a democratic society,” Antonijevic said.

The institution’s reaction came after a statement from the “Da se zna!” association, which said the Pride caravan in Sabac was held amid heavy tension, while the gathering in Loznica was cut short following an attack by extremist groups. According to the organizers, activists had been exposed to hundreds of threats of violence and death in the days before arriving in both cities, and both gatherings had to be shortened because of the security risk and the presence of extremist and right-wing groups.

“For days before arriving in Sabac and Loznica, activists of the ‘Da se zna!’ association were exposed to hundreds of threats of violence and death. Although the event in Sabac ended without physical incidents, the atmosphere was extremely tense, and the gathering was accompanied by continuous jeering, homophobic shouting and gestures of hatred,” the association’s statement said.

In Sabac, according to the association, the gathering went ahead under a heavy police presence and with extremist groups massed near the venue. Unlike in Sabac, the caravan in Loznica had to be cut short before its planned end.

Antonijevic also stated in his statement that the actions of individuals should not be attributed to an entire community.

“The incidents caused by individuals must not be attributed to all the residents of Loznica, or of any other city. The vast majority of people did not take part in the violence, and the loudest, most aggressive individuals should not be allowed to define the image of an entire community,” the commissioner added.

Antonijevic assessed that the police, through their presence and intervention, protected the participants and prevented further escalation, but that protecting equality and safety is not the responsibility of the police alone. He said all competent authorities, as well as society as a whole, need to give a clear response to hate speech, threats and violence, since otherwise divisions deepen and those already at greater risk of discrimination are put in further danger. The commissioner also noted that tolerance is not the absence of disagreement, but a willingness to accept that there are people in society who think, live and express their identity differently, and that this should not put their dignity, safety and rights at risk.

The gatherings in Sabac and Loznica were the last two of six held as part of this year’s Pride caravan, which the “Da se zna!” association organizes ahead of Belgrade Pride, scheduled for September 5. Before the gatherings in the two towns in the Macva region, the Eparchy of Sabac had publicly demanded that both be canceled.

The commissioner’s statement is the first reaction from a state institution to yesterday’s and today’s events in Sabac and Loznica. Whether the competent authorities will launch proceedings over the reported threats remains an open question in the days ahead.