Some 30 demonstrators in London protest French burkini ban
Posted August 25, 2016 7:00 am
LONDON (AP) - Some 30 demonstrators have gathered in London to protest local French bans of the body-covering burkini swimsuit.
The protesters threw a 'wear what you want' beach party outside the French Embassy to make the point that it was unjust to tell women what to wear. The demonstrations came a day after images on social media appeared to show uniformed French police requiring a woman to take off her tunic.
The pictures elicited shock and anger. Among the demonstrators was 40-year-old Jenny Dawkins, a curate at All Saints Church in Peckham.
She said that whatever the reason behind the ban, it doesn't justify, "men with weapons standing over a woman telling her what not to wear. That's not a sight that any of us should stand for."
An activist protests outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists protest outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
An activist protests wears a mask outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists wearing masks protest outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. Writing on the sign reads: 'No to Islamophobia, yes to Burkinis.' (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists protest outside the French embassy, during the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
An activist protests outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
Activists protest outside the French embassy during, the "wear what you want beach party" in London, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. The protest is against the French authorities clampdown on Muslim women wearing burkinis on the beach. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
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