This week there have been two big demonstrations in Paris pro- and anti-gay marriage, as the French Senate has passed a gay-marriage bill called "Mariage pour tous."
Some American friends of mine here live near the area where the anti-gay-marriage protestors were and were expecting an Austrian friend of theirs to arrive from the airport. But the Austrian's taxi couldn't get near their house; all the streets were blocked off because of the protest. The Austrian got out and walked with his suitcase, but the CRS (riot police) wouldn't even let him walk past the barriers. He got out his phone and called my friends. Ed decided to go down and get him.
At the barrier, Ed couldn't get out, and the Austrian couldn't get in, and they were thirty feet apart. They waved at each other. The inside CRS told the outside CRS to let the Austrian go past the barrier as he was visiting Ed.
"C'est votre ami?" one CRS guys asked Ed.
"C'est mon fiancé!" said Ed (who is straight). He and his friend embraced.
As he led his friend back to the house, Ed heard one of the CRS call "Bonne journée!" and another call "Non, non, bonne nuit!"
My husband and I were wondering what to do yesterday to take advantage of the nice weather, when I spotted someone from our apartment walking by with a "Mani Pour Tous" pink flag and thought it meant there was going to be a pro-gay marriage manifestation.
I think the strikes are fun. It's a nice long walk in the middle of the street which is a different perspective than the sidewalks, there's music, there's yummy street food and margaritas from the back of moving trucks.
Luckily my husband quickly pointed out that despite the pink and the "for all" in their slogan, it was a strike for the anti-marriage folks. Not my cup of tea.
We decided to walk to the movies and ended up having to cross through the procession. It wasn't too crowded but it creeped me out being in the middle of that many people I consider to be hateful. It only took a minute to get across the street but I felt so icky when I got across I wanted to go home and take a bath.
So thanks for posting a nice story!
Vice.com was there in January. http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/i-spoke-to-anti-gay-marriage-protesters-in-paris
Posted by: Emilyinexile.blogspot.com | 22 April 2013 at 12:27
What a great story! It's good to know that the police have a sense of humor.
Posted by: TQE | Adam | 22 April 2013 at 13:27
Quick thinking all around.
Posted by: chrissoup | 27 April 2013 at 03:29