Dan Choi was arrested and attacked by an ultra-orthodox neo-Nazi group last week while taking part in a Moscow pride parade, along with approximately eighteen other protestors. Choi and the others were attacked and held in a police station overnight.
The leader of the group that attacked Choi and the others, Leonid Simonovich said, “people should not be allowed to hold a gay pride parade.”
The United States voiced concern, and asked for authorities to better safeguard “fundamental freedoms” of assembly. US State Department Spokesman, Mark Toner, said in a statement “We note with concern that a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups,” Toner continued, “We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms that members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are committed to.”
Choi and three Westerners along with thirty Russians protestors were released after being detained for a few hours. Human rights groups have condemned Russian police. Later, Choi wrote a letter to Hilary Clinton asking her to condemn the violence in Russia.
To sign Dan Choi’s letter visit :
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6006/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4187
Dan Choi was arrested and attacked by an ultra-orthodox neo-Nazi group last week while taking part in a Moscow pride parade, along with approximately eighteen other protestors. Choi and the others were attacked and held in a police station overnight.
The leader of the group that attacked Choi and the others, Leonid Simonovich said, “people should not be allowed to hold a gay pride parade.”
