Police violently arrest civil rights activists

From Current.com:

MOSCOW – Moscow police violently dispersed a gay pride rally Saturday that was banned by city authorities, drawing attention to Russia’s record on gay rights as it prepares to host a major international pop music competition.

About 30 activists gathered near a university in southwestern Moscow to protest discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia.

The group, which included British gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell, waved flags and chanted slogans, including: “Homophobia is a disgrace of this country!” and “We are demanding equal rights!”

Whenever human rights are under attack anywhere in the world, every human is under attack. The Russian people are clearly no longer free.  A government willing to violently arrest a group of citizens who are trying to achieve equality is a government the United States should be cautious of.   The United Nations, the EU, and the United States should immediately condemn these assaults on free speech and human rights.  You do not have to support equal rights for gay people to be sickened by this display of totalitarianism.  You just have to be aware of how vital civil liberties are to a free society and a free world.

I commend the bravery of the human rights activists in Russia. We should demand their safe release from prison immediately and demand the Russian Government allow their citizens to exercise inalienable human rights like free speech.

Please contact the Russian Embassy and express your opposition to these human rights violations. http://www.russianembassy.org/