On Jan 4, 2006 a court in Poznan refused to begin criminal proceedings against 53 participants of the Equality March, a demonstration organized by feminist and leftist groupings in support of minorities, including gays and lesbians. A similar decision was taken on Dec 30, 2005 in 22 similar cases brought by the police against the marchers, who were detained and charged with taking part in an illegal gathering. That means that all participants of the March won't be charged of 'taking part in illegal gethereing'.

The criminal court ruled in the final days of 2005 that it would penalize the demonstrators if they offense was 'damaging to the society'.

The march was banned by the mayor of Poznan, who cited security reasons. A year earlier, a similar legal event led to street riots with far-right activists. The organizers of the march claimed that the mayor of Poznan, Ryszard Grobelny, surrendered to the demands of far-right parties and the Catholic clergy, who believed the demonstration was immoral.

The regional administrative court in Poznan later overruled Grobelny's decision, saying that the mayor of Poznan did not have the authority to ban a peaceful demonstration. After this ruling, the police, not before initial hesitation and a later order coming from its top commander, said it would not support the criminal charges any longer.

The police has not yet produced criminal charges against counter-demonstrators, who shouted fascist slogans at the Equality March participants.