Watch: Topless Activists Attack Right-Wing French Leader

By R. Siva Kumar - 03 May '15 13:25PM

Topless FEMEN activists had anti-Le Pen slogans all over their bodies. They carried out a Nazi salute, when they attacked Marine Le Pen's May Day speech in Paris, along with a tribute paid to Joan of Arc at a rally that was hosted by the French National Front party, according to rt.

Le Pen was the leader of the National Front and was approaching a memorial with a wreath to the Joan of Arc, when two FEMEN activists barged in, with "TOP fascist Le Pen" painted on their chests and backs.

"Lots of surprises on this May first," Le Pen said in reaction to FEMEN's antics. "It's quite a paradox when you call yourself a feminist and try to disturb a tribute to Joan of Arc."

John of Arc, a French heroine, had been beatified as a Roman Catholic saint. The National Front party is known to organize various rallies near her statues. With a tricolor flame that symbolizes her martyrdom, it is used as an emblem and symbol of nationalism.

After succeeding her father as NF chief in 2011, Marine has tried to rid NF of its anti-Semitic image and project it as an anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic force, with protectionist policies. She is an extreme right-wing leader, according to huffingtonpost.

Marine Le Pen's speeches against her political rivals, President Francois Hollande and former President Nicolas Sarkozy, criticized for their immigration policies, were interrupted by FEMEN. "They have allowed massive immigration to install itself in France. They have unpinned the Islamic fundamentalist grenade," she said. "We are right on everything."

There were about 3,500 to 3,800 people in Place de l'Opéra square on May Day, according to police estimates.

Even as she spoke, she was interrupted by three FEMEN members in the balcony overlooking Place de l'Opéra square who unfurled two huge banners: "Heil Le Pen." They then made a Nazi salute.

"They [FEMEN topless activists] will be forced to get dressed," Le Pen said, when seven activists got arrested.

Inna Shevchenko, a FEMEN activist, who was given political asylum in France in 2013, said they are planning to sue the National Front for "excessive violence".

"The objective today was to ... show how Marine Le Pen really is and show her real face," Shevchenko told French media.

FEMEN is a radical feminist protest group founded in Ukraine in 2008. The group is now based in Paris. The organization has become internationally known for its topless protests against religious institutions, sexism, homophobia, and other social, national, and international issues.