Protesters disrupting the French Open tennis men's final

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Sun Jun 9, 2013, 12:31 PM - Edit history (1)

First it was some banners up at the top of the stands; and just now, a man with a flare got onto the court and set it off - at which 5 or 6 secret service types appeared to hustle him away and stand close to the players (when it was over, Nadal shook the hand of the one who came close to him).


The British TV commentators thought the banner was about children's rights. What that means in particular (or a claim about the right of gay couples to adopt that recently became law?), I'm not sure.

Update: yes, it was gay marriage opponents:

A masked, bare-chested protester waving a lit flare ran onto the court at the men's final of the French Open tennis in Paris but was restrained by security before he could interrupt the match.

A few minutes earlier, two bare-chested men stood up in the front rows, holding a banner accusing France of trampling on children's rights.

Other protesters called on President Francois Hollande to resign.

The protesters were angered by France's decision to legalise gay marriage.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22833798

[dhill926]

1. scary moment.....

considering the Seles incident. And right wing, anti-gay assholes to boot.....

[joeybee12]

2. Should one read anything into Rafroid shaking the guy's hand?

Maybe he just did as a reaction...doubt he knows enough French to uderstand what scum he was dealing with.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. No, I worded that badly - Nadal shook the hand of the secret service-type guy

who had quickly rushed to his side at the first sign of trouble (it was at Nadal's end), and stayed with him till they had got the flare guy out of the stadium, and it was clear nothing else was going on.

[joeybee12]

4. Oh, ok...

Was it in paris previously when the guy rushed out onto the court and wanted to meet Roger? I think it was 2009 in the final...wonder how this happens twice at that venue?