A group of young Swiss conservative activists will go on trial next week and could face prison time for carrying a massive white cross that said “No Pride Month” into a Catholic church during an ecumenical pro-LGBT “pride” service in 2022 and later holding a sign protesting a “drag queen story hour.”
In a video posted August 27 on social media, three members of “Junge Tat,” a group of young Swiss conservative activists, spoke out about the decision by the Zurich Public Prosecutor’s office to charge and put them on trial September 4 for carrying a massive 2.4-meter white cross with the words “No Pride Month” into Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church during an ecumenical service celebrating LGBT “pride” in June 2022.
The Junge Tat members are also being charged for another incident that year when they held up a sign saying “family not gender ideology” during a “drag queen story hour” event, among other activities.
Some of the charges against the young activists include “racial discrimination,” “interfering with freedom of religion and worship,” and “violations of the Explosives Act.” The leaders of Junge Tat are facing up to 15 months in prison, with six months to be served, as well as nearly 50,000 Swiss Francs in fines.
“Is freedom of speech still upheld in democratic Switzerland? Certainly, for leftists, liberals, or the state broadcaster SRF. And for right-wing and dissident opinions?” Manuel Corchia, one of the group’s leaders, pondered in the video.
Tobias Lingg, another Junge Tat leader, continued, “For example, is it still allowed to say ‘family instead of gender ideology’ or ‘No Pride Month?’ Can you wear a cross with this inscription to a church service? According to the Zurich Sihl public prosecutor’s office, ‘No.'”
After declaring that they, as right-wing activists, are now being punished for “opinion offenses,” they delved into the absurdity of these charges.
“We are accused of, at a ‘Pride service,’ having attacked religious beliefs thematically and mocked the cross. We, who on that day placed a white cross with the inscription ‘No Pride Month’ in that service, are said to have mocked Christianity and the cross,” Lingg said.
