Stonewall and Pride in London will hold a vigil in Soho Square this evening to honour those killed and injured in Saturday night's attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations.
The event, which will begin at 7pm, comes after a vehicle was driven into crowds attending the annual Pride gathering in the German capital. One woman was killed and dozens of people were injured.
Christopher Street Day is one of Europe's largest Pride events, attracting hundreds of thousands of people to Berlin each year. The event commemorates the 1969 LGBTQ+ uprising at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City, widely regarded as the catalyst for the modern Pride movement.
Stonewall chief executive Simon Blake OBE said the attack had targeted not only those attending the event but also the values that Pride represents.
"Berlin's Christopher Street Day should have been a celebration of who we are," he said. "Instead, it became an attack on our community and on the values of freedom and equality that Pride represents.
"An attack on any one of us is an attack on all of us. Tomorrow we come together in Soho Square to stand together, to grieve and to say clearly that we are not afraid and will not be frightened out of public life. Our solidarity with lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer+ people in Berlin, and around the globe, is unshakeable."
Rebecca Paisis, interim chief executive of Pride in London, said the attack had deeply affected LGBTQ+ communities across the world. "Over the past two days, many of us have been trying to come to terms with the devastating attack at Christopher Street Day," she said.
"I have spoken to many people across our community and one message has come through clearly: we stand united in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ siblings in Berlin and around the world.
"Pride in London champions visibility, unity and equality for all. The vigil tomorrow is an opportunity to honour those affected and send a clear message to Berlin and the LGBTQ+ community in Germany: you are not alone, our community stands with you."
The vigil will feature short speeches from community representatives and other leaders. Further details will be shared through Stonewall and Pride in London's social media channels.
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