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Valentine's Day protest in London over Pope's visit
A central London demonstration and march in protest at Pope Benedict XVI's official visit to the UK has been organised for Sunday 14 March.
Hosted by Josh Kutchinsky and Marco Tranchino of the Central London Humanist Group, the protest is in partnership with the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society and gay rights group OutRage, among others.
Supporters are asked to gather outside Westminster Cathedral at 1pm before a 2pm march to the Italian embassy in Grosvenor Square where a rally will be held from 3-5pm.
Speakers at the event will include the British Humanist Association's Bob Churchill, National Secular Society president Terry Sanderson and OutRage's Peter Tatchell.
Tatchell said: "The Pope opposes women's rights, gay equality, embryonic stem cell research, death with dignity and the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV.
"[He] has already denounced our equality laws. He is likely to abuse his presence in Britain to further attack our democratically-agreed legislation that gives equal rights to women and gay people."
The protest is one of a number being organised by those opposed to the pontiff's arrival in September, including that of the National Secular Society, which estimates that the visit will cost the British taxpayer £20m.
"I am sure many others feel the same resentment as we do at the National Secular Society at funding the presence of someone who wishes to impose a reactionary agenda of social change on us," Sanderson told Associated Press.
More information about the event can be found on Facebook.
