Kiev, Ukraine — More than 50 Ukrainian far-right activists were detained in Kiev on Sunday after they tried to disrupt a gay pride march, the police said.
As around 5,000 people gathered for the march amid a huge security presence, about 150 members of a far-right group tried to block the route.
Several threw gas canisters at the police. Five officers had to seek medical treatment, the authorities said.
Fifty-six protesters were detained, and the march took place without incident, as participants with rainbow flags and multicolored hair walked through the capital.
The number of participants was roughly double that of the previous year. The United States ambassador, Marie L. Yovanovitch, and Rebecca Harms of the European Parliament were at the front of the march.
Along the way supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights were guarded by some 5,000 officers, including mounted police officers.
“There must always be the police, otherwise someone will come, otherwise someone will interrupt, otherwise someone will attack,” said one marcher, Liza, 19. She said, “I think this is not the way it should be in a civilized country.”
by Agence France-Presse
Source – The New York Times
