Thousands of opponents of a gay marriage bill thronged the streets of Paris on Sunday in a last-ditch bid to block the legislation, under the watchful eye of police after recent violence.
The demonstration came after days of sometimes vicious protests and several homophobic assaults in France, as parliament prepares to vote on, and likely pass, the bill Tuesday, making France the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
The recent unrest has sparked concern over Sunday’s mass demonstration, particularly as supporters of the legislation are also poised to begin a rival protest in Paris. Both organizers and security forces are on high alert. Many parents and their children were part of the procession, holding French flags and pink and blue banners, the colour of the ‘Manif pour tous’ (Demo for All) group, the spearhead of the movement against the bill, which would also legalize adoption by gay couples.
‘We’ve been to all the protests,’ said a 32-year-old mother who only gave her first name Camille, as she breast-fed her four-month-old son.
The demonstration came after days of sometimes vicious protests and several homophobic assaults in France, as parliament prepares to vote on, and likely pass, the bill Tuesday, making France the 14th country to legalize same-sex marriage.
The recent unrest has sparked concern over Sunday’s mass demonstration, particularly as supporters of the legislation are also poised to begin a rival protest in Paris. Both organizers and security forces are on high alert. Many parents and their children were part of the procession, holding French flags and pink and blue banners, the colour of the ‘Manif pour tous’ (Demo for All) group, the spearhead of the movement against the bill, which would also legalize adoption by gay couples.
‘We’ve been to all the protests,’ said a 32-year-old mother who only gave her first name Camille, as she breast-fed her four-month-old son.