Protesters fail to halt Lithuanian LGBT Pride Parade
“It shows that we need to march until eggs aren’t thrown anymore and people can march freely and without fear.”
Giedre Purvaneckiene, a Lithuanian legislator, speaking after being hit by an anti-LGBT protester’s egg while leading Lithuania’s second pride parade today. Brigitta Ohlsson, Sweden’s European Union affairs minister, also at the head of the parade, was also hit with eggs. Neither was injured. The downtown Vilnius parade, which had been permitted by court order, attracted several hundred LGBT-rights supporters, a large police presence and hundreds of anti-LGBT protesters. Police detained 28 protesters who, aside from throwing eggs, attempted to storm a stage featuring LGBT speakers. Another Lithuanian lawmaker, Petras Grazulis, was also detained, albeit briefly, for rallying the anti-LGBT bloc with a bullhorn. (Associated Press)
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