Brussels Pride,an event that drew approximately 70,000 people to the city center on Saturday,was largely peaceful but experienced disruption when activists targeted the N-VA (Nieuw-vlaamse Alliantie) floats. The Brussels police made two arrests after paint was thrown at the N-VA vehicles, and about 20 activists were removed from the procession.

Incident Details and Reactions

The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. on Muntplein. According to Gilles Verstraeten, N-VA party leader in the Brussels Parliament, an action group positioned themselves between the N-VA and Les Engagés floats.

At a certain moment an action group has placed itself between the floats of N-VA and Les Engagés. They then thrown at us wiht glass bottles and tried to smear our car with paint. LED screens were killed,but luckily no one was injured. We then continued our journey.
Gilles Verstraeten, N-VA party leader in the Brussels Parliament

Mr. Verstraeten noted that this was not an isolated incident, citing previous hostility towards the N-VA at Brussels Pride events.

also in 2018 it became violent, but every year we feel hostility hear. That is an absolute shame. The Brussels Pride should be a celebration of tolerance and inclusiveness. But now we have to experience every year how radical-left activists are visiting us. How can I still ask our young members-who are not a guarantee here? I am not afraid of their safety- At the moment, not to pronounce whether N-VA will still be present next year. We are stubborn and we don’t let ourselves be pushed away. It is also not if you are a right-wing party that you cannot defend the LGBTQIA+rights? We strive for the rights of this community. If I have to believe the activists, I would even protest against myself. I am extremely angry and degraded.
Gilles Verstraeten, N-VA party leader in the Brussels Parliament

He also suggested that some members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Brussels encourage the violence against his party, creating an unsafe habitat for N-VA members in certain areas of the city.

Condemnation of the Actions

Frank Schellings of the Rainbow House Brussels strongly condemned the actions of the protestors.

This makes me really angry. N-VA, just like the other parties present, is vrey welcome at the Brussels Pride. N-VA is also the party that opens the transgender rights openly. It is indeed absolutely reprehensible to attack people at the Brussels Pride physically and we find it very unfortunate that this happened. It is people who have no place in this Brussels.
Frank Schellings, rainbow House Brussels