Several police personnel barricaded the streets along Recto Avenue, Manila, on Thursday, June 26, resulting in the disruption of the LGBTQ+ community’s protest.
RH Boy Gonzales reported that rallyists marched from Morayta to Recto Avenue on early Thursday, to protest various issues, including pushing for equal and just treatment for members of the LGBsQ+ community.
Before the group reached Mendiola, the police had already barricaded the street, putting up numerous barbed wires in the middle of it. However, the group was able to remove the barricade and tried to push through with the protest.
Former Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative and Makabayan President, Liza Maza, explained that the LGBTQ+ community is protesting various issues faced by their community and the Filipino community as a whole.
“Ito ay paggigiit ng mga karapatan ng ating mga kapatid na LGBT. Marami silang mga issue, katulad ng marami sa ating mga kababayan, tulad ng pagtaas ng mga bilihin, tulad ng kanilang demand sa pagtaas ng sahod, at lalong higit yung pagkilala sa kanilang mga karapatan,” she said.
“Na sila dapat ay itinuturing na pantay, sila dapat ay hindi dinidiscriminate, at panawagan din nila na maipasa na yung SOGIE Bill…Ang sinasabi nila ngayon, hindi talaga lalaya ang mga LGBT hangga’t ang buong sambayanang Pilipino ay hindi malaya,” she added.
Maza also stated that they condemn the police for setting up barricades in the area, adding that since President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was elected, they are unable to have peaceful protests.
“Kailangan namin igiit at ipaglaban dahil ito po ay Mendiola, ito ay simbolo ng pakikibaka ng sambayanang Pilipino. At hangga’t hinaharangan ‘yan igigiit at igigiit namin ang karapatang magpahayag at karapatang mag rally dito po sa harapan ng Mendiola,” Maza explained.
