ANTI-GAY PROTESTER USES CHILD AS SHIELD

A protester in a massive anti-gay protest in Paris on the weekend has been accused of using a young child as a shield amid scuffles with police.

An estimated 300,000 people marched on the French capital on Sunday in yet another protest against pending legislation that will legalise same-sex marriage and gay adoption.

The bill has already been passed by parliament’s lower house and is expected to also be approved next month in the senate.

Both houses are dominated by supporters of President François Hollande, who has backed the legislation.

While most of Sunday’s protest was uneventful, there were skirmishes later in the day when some protesters tried to push past police barricades into the Champs-Elysées, the famous avenue popular with tourists.

Police used teargas and pepper spray to stop the advancing protesters and were later slammed by conservative politicians for doing so in a crowd that included families and children.

Americablog.com, however, has pointed out that some protesters appear to have actually used their children, putting them at risk, in a bid to break through the police line.

One video posted on Facebook shows a man with his three year child on his shoulders walking toward the police and shouting “On met les enfants devant! On met les enfants devant! (“Put the kids in front! Put the kids in front!”).

This reportedly after the police had already used teargas and batons against angry protesters.

People expressed their outrage at the man’s action on Facebook.

“No shame – putting children in front, knowing they’re going to be tear gassed,” said one person, while another commented, “How horrible to watch adults bring their children to sow hate against gay people”.

Watch the video of the incident below.