The feminist activist group Femen is claiming responsibility for sending at least two topless protesters into a wide boulevard in Paris to disrupt President Trump’s motorcade as it traveled to a ceremony to commemorate the end of World War I.
One topless woman made it past tight security along the Champs-Elysees Avenue and ran directly into the route of the slowly passing motorcade, shouting, “fake peace maker” as the cars passed on their way to the U.S. ambassador’s residence near the Arc de Triomphe, where more than 60 world leaders gathered to mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the Associated Press reported.
Officers took her into custody immediately after the motorcade passed.
At least one other topless protester got into the avenue when the president’s limousine was there, but did not reach the cars. The words “fake” and “peace” were written on one woman’s body as she ran right next to the presidential limo, a video posted by Femen shows.
A U.S. reporter traveling with the motorcade wrote about the incident in a pool report to other reporters, saying, “A topless woman, with writing on her body, got around the barriers that were blocking off the road from the blocked off sidewalk and tried to run toward the POTUS motorcade. She was quickly accosted by three security officials.” We’re assuming the reporter meant ot write “apprehended” rather than “accosted.”
Femen’s topless protesters have repeatedly breached security around world leaders and major events, usually topless, the AP said.
In another post on Twitter, Femen said: “#FEMEN faces #TRUMP car on the Champs Elysées in Paris to denounce this gangster party, faking to celebrate peace and end of WW1. #FEMEN believes that restoring world peace with those who are responsible for the ongoing wars is hypocritical.”