A commemoration of the victims of the terrorist attack on Zámocká Street in Bratislava in October 2022 had been planned at the Gymnázium Ľudovíta Štúra in Trenčín. (source: FB/glstrencin)
The Ľudovít Štúr Gymnasium in Trenčín has cancelled a planned memorial event that was meant to commemorate the victims of a terrorist attack that occurred in Bratislava two years ago.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, shortly after 19:00, a shooting occurred on Zámocká Street in Bratislava, outside the Tepláreň bar, one of a handful of LGBT+ venues in the city. Two patrons of the bar, both aged under 30, were shot dead and an employee was seriously injured and taken to hospital. The 19-year-old perpetrator was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunhot wound.
The gymnasium wanted to commemorate the victims of the attack, but was forced to cancel the event after coming under political pressure. The decision was made in response to numerous negative reactions to the initiative, which began spreading on social media after neo-fascist MEP Milan Mazurek (Republika) publicly criticised the event, labelling it "LGBT+ ideology propaganda". Subsequently, disinformation media also criticised the event.
The teacher who organised the event, along with many students, expressed disappointment at the situation, reports My Trenčín website.
Together with the school administration, they emphasised that there was no intent to spread any ideology, and that participation in the event was voluntary – as it had been at a commemorative event last year.
A voluntary initiative to honour LGBT+ victims
The event, called "Diversity Day", was intended as a voluntary initiative to raise awareness about diversity. Students were invited to wear colourful clothes and create posters that would be displayed around the school, commemorating the two victims of the 2022 attack.
"We also have students from this minority at our school. On October 12, it will be two years since the terrorist attack at Tepláreň in Bratislava, where two innocent people were murdered. It was a targeted attack against the LGBTI+ community. I believe it is important to stand up for the vulnerable, so it is human and understandable that we would commemorate the second anniversary of this event at school," said the teacher who organised the event and who wished to remain anonymous.
She also emphasised that the event was completely voluntary and that no students were pressured to participate.
From a commemorative event to a scandal
However, after one student forwarded the details of the event from the Edupage system to a far-right media outlet, the situation quickly escalated. The event was portrayed in a negative light, and the teacher’s initiative was widely misinterpreted.
“One of the students shared the message with Lívia from Kulturblog [a far-right influencer - Ed.], who immediately turned it into a scandal, distorting the purpose of the event and the activities planned for the day,” the teacher explained.
The school administration decided to cancel the event to avoid further controversy, citing concerns about the spread of false information and the negative emotions being stirred up among the public. “Our primary concern was the school, the students, and the staff. Academic grounds must remain apolitical. Some students support the cancellation, while others are against it,” the school stated.
Students are disappointed
Many students expressed disappointment over the decision. “I’m really sad about it,” said student Jana. “When we remember victims of a terrorist attack because of their sexuality, it’s just a reminder, like when we remember the day [investigative journalist Ján] Kuciak was killed. These were people who died unjustly because of who they were.”
Miroslava, another student, echoed these feelings: “I’m very unhappy and disappointed. This was the only terrorist attack in Slovakia, and we should remember it to acknowledge its importance. A simple art exhibition and colourful clothing wouldn’t have hurt anyone.”
The Trenčín regional government, which oversees the school, supported the cancellation, stating that the event had been widely misunderstood and misrepresented on social media. “We were assured that the school was not promoting any kind of ideology,” said Lenka Kukučková, spokesperson for the region.
The Education Ministry emphasised that schools should remain apolitical and focus on teaching human rights, mutual respect and tolerance – key pillars of a democratic society. However, in a statement from October 9, Education Minister Tomáš Drucker (Hlas) condemned the attacks on the school and the teacher and stressed that the intimidation of schools, teachers, and students is unacceptable.
“Only the most politically desperate individuals, with nothing to offer Slovakia, would choose to attack schools, children, and teachers,” he said.
On October 8, PM Robert Fico criticised the school for planning the event. According to Fico, the event was invented by some “deranged” professor.
The mayor of Trenčín, Richard Rybníček, expressed disappointment over the school’s decision. “I am personally disheartened that the leadership of the gymnasium caved in to baseless claims of ‘promoting LGBTI+ ideology’,” he said.
The city of Trenčín will commemorate the second anniversary of the attack on October 11.
