Anti-Gay Marriage Rally Turns Violent In France

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

IGOR BOBIC 10:37 AM EDT, MONDAY MARCH 25, 2013

An anti-gay marriage rally turned violent in Paris on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of people marched against a draft bill that would allow same-sex partners to marry and adopt children.

The "marriage for everyone" bill, already passed by the lower house of French parliament, stands a test in the Socialist controlled Senate next month. Via the Guardian:

The first few hours of the protest were peaceful. But as it was meant to be winding down, about 100 youths tried to push past police barricades on to the Champs Elysées.

Police officers wrangled with the youths, firing teargas to force them back. Gaining momentum, more and more protesters took side streets to reach the avenue, blocking a key intersection on the route to the president's Elysée Palace.

-snip-

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/anti-gay-marriage-rally-turns-violent-in-france

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Wow. I didn't expect that.

I apparently don't know a whole lot about the makeup of French society.

[Posteritatis]

8. No population of 65 million is going to be anything close to a monolith. (nt)

[dipsydoodle]

2. Longer video here

http://www.euronews.com/nocomment/2013/03/25/french-riot-police-clash-with-anti-gay-marriage-protesters/

[mountain grammy]

3. I thought the French were more open minded about these things..

thanks for the eye opener, but I do think the law will pass..

[onehandle]

4. 2/3rds of French people are in favor of gay marriage. It will pass. nt

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. Its not "the french".

No more do these people represent all of France than tea baggers represent you. This is a select group of religious fanatics mostly bused in.

[riderinthestorm]

6. Ugh, mostly religious groups who oppose gay marriage in France

Well, here too so obviously its pretty universal...



This story is from earlier but indicates its mostly religious groups who oppose it.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/france-gay-marriage-vote

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Majority of France supports equality, it is just the religious and right wing, like here that is

opposed. Their hate is energized by the urgings of religious leaders.
"But the plan faces stiff opposition from the Roman Catholic Church and social conservatives, with huge numbers turning out for protest marches in Paris in recent weeks.
Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, the archbishop of Paris, voiced his opposition at a meeting of French bishops in Lourdes last year.
Opening up marriage to same-sex couples "would be a transformation of marriage that would affect everyone," he said. At the same time, failing to recognize gender difference within marriage and the family would be a "deceit" that would rock the foundations of society and lead to discrimination between children, he said."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/12/world/europe/france-gay-marriage-vote