AUSTRALIA 
Colourful protesters gather to "annoy" WYD pilgrims
Saturday, 19 July, 2008
Anti-Pope protesters in Sydney. (SBS)
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A devil, a drag queen and a pink alien are opposing Pope Benedict XVI's stand against condoms, homosexuality and abortion.
IN DEPTH: World Youth Day
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IN PICTURES: Pilgrims trek across the Harbour Bridge
IN PICTURES: The Maestro and the Pope
They were part of a colourful crowd that assembled at Taylor Square in east Sydney's Darlinghurst this afternoon before a planned march towards Randwick Racecourse, where the Pope will tomorrow hold mass for up to 500,000 people.
Many of the hundreds of people rallied by the NoToPope Coalition, were wearing shirts emblazoned with slogans including "Bless me father for I am homo", "Thank God I'm an atheist" and "If God hates fags then I hate God".
They were joined by a devil bearing the sign "I do not exist", the fluorescent pink alien the Raelian Movement has named Pope Alice, along with drag queen Vanessa Wagner.
The coalition won the right to "annoy" World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims in a court battle earlier this week.
The Federal Court struck out the section of the clause in WYD regulations that made it illegal to "annoy" participants, punishable by a $5,500 fine.
However, it is still an offence to inconvenience pilgrims.
"We did it, we made it here," NoToPope Coalition spokeswoman Rachel Evans said today.
"We're really happy with the turn out.
"I'm especially happy with all the gorgeous T-shirts and placards showing gay pride is alive."
A total of 6,000 condoms, red in colour to promote HIV awareness, will be offered to WYD pilgrims during the protest march.
Conspiracy to murder
The coalition argues the Pope's views constitute a conspiracy to murder, because opposition to condoms leads to more people becoming infected with HIV.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he hoped today's demonstration would remain peaceful.
"We acknowledge, in fact we facilitate lawful protest," Mr Scipione told reporters.
"But with the right to protest comes the responsibility to act lawfully.
"Those that break the law will be dealt with according to the law."
Led by a utility truck with a dummy of the Pope in the tray, the demonstrators walked to Moore Park chanting "the Pope is wrong, put a condom on", lobbing inflated condoms into the air.
Young Catholics lunching in the park packed up their belongings and moved on as the NoToPope group arrived, ignoring the offered condoms.
"We'd like to bring to you a sense of social justice," Ms Evans announced. "We know that these messages save lives."
Pilgrims don't care
New Zealand pilgrim Brittany Francis, 18, said she wasn't fazed by the demonstration.
"They've all got their own opinions," she said as she made her way towards the racecourse, where a vigil will be held tonight.
"We've got our own beliefs and we're not going to change it because of them."
A fellow NZ pilgrim, who gave her name only as Janet, said she agreed.
"Everyone is free to say his own opinion, so good on them," she said.
Stationed beside the flood of people on a pilgrimage walk to Randwick, the protesters chanted: "AIDS kills, use a condom", while the pilgrims chanted back "Benedicto".
There was a heavy presence of police on horseback, push bikes and foot as the good natured exchange continued.
One pilgrim detained
A young pilgrim who ran among the demonstrators as they made way back towards Taylor Square was put in the back of a police van.
Police on the scene would not comment on the incident, but demonstrator Stefan Joksic, of Newtown, alleged the man had jumped on him and called him a "fag".
Source: AAP/SBS
IN DEPTH: World Youth Day
VIDEO: Pilgrims trek for Jesus
The sights and sounds of World Youth Day
IN PICTURES: Pilgrims trek across the Harbour Bridge
IN PICTURES: The Maestro and the Pope
They were part of a colourful crowd that assembled at Taylor Square in east Sydney's Darlinghurst this afternoon before a planned march towards Randwick Racecourse, where the Pope will tomorrow hold mass for up to 500,000 people.
Many of the hundreds of people rallied by the NoToPope Coalition, were wearing shirts emblazoned with slogans including "Bless me father for I am homo", "Thank God I'm an atheist" and "If God hates fags then I hate God".
They were joined by a devil bearing the sign "I do not exist", the fluorescent pink alien the Raelian Movement has named Pope Alice, along with drag queen Vanessa Wagner.
The coalition won the right to "annoy" World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims in a court battle earlier this week.
The Federal Court struck out the section of the clause in WYD regulations that made it illegal to "annoy" participants, punishable by a $5,500 fine.
However, it is still an offence to inconvenience pilgrims.
"We did it, we made it here," NoToPope Coalition spokeswoman Rachel Evans said today.
"We're really happy with the turn out.
"I'm especially happy with all the gorgeous T-shirts and placards showing gay pride is alive."
A total of 6,000 condoms, red in colour to promote HIV awareness, will be offered to WYD pilgrims during the protest march.
Conspiracy to murder
The coalition argues the Pope's views constitute a conspiracy to murder, because opposition to condoms leads to more people becoming infected with HIV.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said he hoped today's demonstration would remain peaceful.
"We acknowledge, in fact we facilitate lawful protest," Mr Scipione told reporters.
"But with the right to protest comes the responsibility to act lawfully.
"Those that break the law will be dealt with according to the law."
Led by a utility truck with a dummy of the Pope in the tray, the demonstrators walked to Moore Park chanting "the Pope is wrong, put a condom on", lobbing inflated condoms into the air.
Young Catholics lunching in the park packed up their belongings and moved on as the NoToPope group arrived, ignoring the offered condoms.
"We'd like to bring to you a sense of social justice," Ms Evans announced. "We know that these messages save lives."
Pilgrims don't care
New Zealand pilgrim Brittany Francis, 18, said she wasn't fazed by the demonstration.
"They've all got their own opinions," she said as she made her way towards the racecourse, where a vigil will be held tonight.
"We've got our own beliefs and we're not going to change it because of them."
A fellow NZ pilgrim, who gave her name only as Janet, said she agreed.
"Everyone is free to say his own opinion, so good on them," she said.
Stationed beside the flood of people on a pilgrimage walk to Randwick, the protesters chanted: "AIDS kills, use a condom", while the pilgrims chanted back "Benedicto".
There was a heavy presence of police on horseback, push bikes and foot as the good natured exchange continued.
One pilgrim detained
A young pilgrim who ran among the demonstrators as they made way back towards Taylor Square was put in the back of a police van.
Police on the scene would not comment on the incident, but demonstrator Stefan Joksic, of Newtown, alleged the man had jumped on him and called him a "fag".
Source: AAP/SBS
