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Protesters Against Same Sex Marraige Interrupt French Open Final With Flares
http://www.africaeagle.com/2013/06/same-sex-protesters-invade-french-open.html
A group of protesters, one letting off a flare, briefly interrupted the French Open tennis final between Rafa Nadal and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Sunday.
The first manifestation of the protest was a series of banners raised in the higher tiers of the stadium.
One couple were seen holding a banner stating, in French, 'Help! France tramples on children’s rights', with another also brandishing the slogan in English.
After a brief interruption in play, they were escorted from the stadium. Several minutes later a more sinister protest halted play, a topless man wearing a face mask intruded on the court brandishing a flare.
As smoke billowed through the court, he was immediately dragged away by security. 'Kids rights' was scrawled on his chest.
"The situation is under control. It is in the hands of the police," Christophe Fagniez, tournament director of operations, told reporters.
The man is believed to have been part of the 'Homen' movement, which has protested against equal marriage laws recently passed in France.
An AFP journalist spoke to one of the protesters outside the stadium, who said “we are protesting against the Taubira law because we fear for the future of our children”.
Christiane Taubira is a French politician who recently proposed the law allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Six other protesters, also bare chested and brandishing flares, got to the top row of the neighbouring Court Suzanne Lenglen unfolding a banner saying 'HOLLANDE DEMISSION' (Hollande resignation') before being bundled out by security.
Last month, French president Francois Hollande signed into law a bill allowing same-sex marriage amid a series of huge, and sometimes violent, demonstrations from many conservatives in France.
The first same-sex marriage was celebrated in Montpellier on May 29.
One couple were seen holding a banner stating, in French, 'Help! France tramples on children’s rights', with another also brandishing the slogan in English.
After a brief interruption in play, they were escorted from the stadium. Several minutes later a more sinister protest halted play, a topless man wearing a face mask intruded on the court brandishing a flare.
As smoke billowed through the court, he was immediately dragged away by security. 'Kids rights' was scrawled on his chest.
"The situation is under control. It is in the hands of the police," Christophe Fagniez, tournament director of operations, told reporters.
The man is believed to have been part of the 'Homen' movement, which has protested against equal marriage laws recently passed in France.
An AFP journalist spoke to one of the protesters outside the stadium, who said “we are protesting against the Taubira law because we fear for the future of our children”.
Christiane Taubira is a French politician who recently proposed the law allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Six other protesters, also bare chested and brandishing flares, got to the top row of the neighbouring Court Suzanne Lenglen unfolding a banner saying 'HOLLANDE DEMISSION' (Hollande resignation') before being bundled out by security.
Last month, French president Francois Hollande signed into law a bill allowing same-sex marriage amid a series of huge, and sometimes violent, demonstrations from many conservatives in France.
The first same-sex marriage was celebrated in Montpellier on May 29.
