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Gay marriage protest draws thousands to Paris Gay marriage protest draws thousands to Paris
(about 7 hours later)
Thousands of police took up positions across Paris on Sunday after the government warned of possible violence and disruption at the final mass demonstration against same-sex marriage before the first wedding ceremony takes place next week. Tens of thousands of people registered a final, furious protest against same-sex marriage on Sunday, days before the first wedding ceremony under a new law.
On Saturday night 50 people were arrested after chaining themselves to metal barriers in the middle of the Champs Elysées and firing smoke canisters. A van carrying masks, banners and smoke bombs was seized by police. At least 150,000 protesters converged on Paris, marshalled by more than 4,500 police who were deployed after the government warned of a risk of violence and disruption.
The new law to allow same-sex marriage and adoption – the key social reform of the Socialist president, François Hollande – was adopted officially last week. Riot police evicted about a dozen far-right activists who used ladders to climb on to the roof of the Socialist party headquarters and unfurled a banner saying "Hollande resign".
This followed months of bitter political debate and the biggest rightwing street demonstrations in decades. Hundreds of arrests were made after clashes between police and demonstrators in the runup to the parliamentary vote. On Saturday night 50 people were arrested after chaining themselves to metal barriers they had placed in the middle of the Champs Elysées and firing smoke canisters. A van carrying masks, banners and smoke bombs was seized by police.
Rights groups also recorded a sharp increase in homophobic acts across France. The new law – the key social reform of the Socialist president, François Hollande – was officially adopted last week, making France the 14th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The first wedding will take place between two gay activists in Montpellier on Wednesday.
The first wedding will take place between two gay activists in Montpellier on Wednesday after France became the 14th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. But divisions over the law continue to cause tensions on the French right, with the government warning of a resurgence among far-right groups and a small number of "ultras" on the fringes. But the reform has sparked months of bitter political debate and the biggest rightwing street demonstrations in decades, including hundreds of arrests after clashes between police and demonstrators in the runup to the parliamentary vote. Rights groups have recorded a sharp increase in homophobic acts across France.
Police expect between 150,000 and 200,000 people to demonstrate in Paris on Sunday afternoon in four different, simultaneous protest marches. Three marches will be led by the anti-same-sex-marriage movement, converging at Les Invalides in central Paris. A fourth will be led by the traditionalist Catholic lobby group, Civitas. Protesters from the anti-same-sex marriage movement converged in their thousands at the Invalides in Paris, while a more hardline demonstration led by Catholic traditionalists gathered near the Opera. Nationalist youth groups attended the latter demonstration, with one calling for a "national revolution".
However, the comedian Virginie Tellene, known by her stage-name Frigide Barjot, who has been the figurehead of the anti-gay marriage movement, said she would not attend the demonstration in order to defend what she called "peace and freedom of expression". She is under police protection having complained of death threats and pressure from the extreme right. Among the crowds, one demonstrator led a donkey carrying a placard: "I'm an ass, I voted Hollande."
The most radical protesters have grouped together under the banner "Printemps Français" (French spring), a loose grouping of traditionalists and far-right associations, which the French interior ministry last week threatened to outlaw due to its inflammatory positions. Divisions over the law continue to cause tensions on the French right, with the government warning of a resurgence in far-right groups and a small number of "ultras" on the fringes.
Tensions were exacerbated by the suicide last Tuesday of the far-right essayist Dominique Venner, who shot himself at the alter of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after leaving a blogpost railing against immigration and the "vile" law legalising same-sex marriage. The most radical protesters have grouped together under the banner Printemps Français (French spring), a loose grouping of traditionalists and far-right associations, which the French interior ministry last week threatened to outlaw.
Sunday's demonstration was planned long before the government rushed through a vote on the law earlier than expected. Coaches and trains are expected to bring demonstrators from across France. Tensions were exacerbated by the suicide last Tuesday of a far-right essayist, Dominique Venner, who shot himself at the altar of Notre Dame cathedral after leaving a blogpost railing against immigration and the "vile" law on same-sex marriage.
The demonstrations have caused a spat between mainstream political parties. Jean-François Copé, leader of the rightwing UMP party, who is keen to capitalise on the protest movement in the runup to next year's local elections, called on party members to join Sunday's demonstration. But other key figures in his party, including the former foreign minister Alain Juppé, advised people not to participate. The comedian Virginie Tellene, known by her stage name Frigide Barjot, who has led the anti-gay marriage movement and been its figurehead, did not attend the demonstration in order to defend what she called "peace and freedom of expression". She is under police protection having complained of death threats and pressure from the extreme rightwing.
The prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, attacked UMP politicians for supporting the demonstration, warning that they would be responsible for "sparking tension and radicalisation". Jean-François Copé, leader of the rightwing UMP party, keen to capitalise on the protest movement in the runup to next year's local elections, attended the demonstration in Paris after other key figures in his party, including the former foreign minister Alain Juppé, had cautioned against it.
The prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, attacked UMP politicians for supporting the demonstration, warning that they were taking "a heavy responsibility" in "sparking tension and radicalisation".
Christian Jacob, head of the UMP group in parliament, who was at the rally, said: "Even though the law has been voted in, it doesn't mean we can't contest it."
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