LGBT Activists Shot With Water Cannons And Kerosene By Peruvian Police

The attacks took place during a Valentine's Day kiss-in protest.
From: NewNowNext

An annual event held by Peruvian LGBT activists called “Kisses against homophobia” was met with violence from police on last week.

Those attending the Valentine’s Day kiss-in, created to protest homophobia, were reportedly shot with water cannons and sprayed with kerosene by local police.

Activitists claimed that the event, which was held in Lima’s Plaza de Armas, sees its protesters met with police brutality every year, but they keep coming back to fight for what they believe in.

Lima-based LGBT website Sin Etiquetas posted photos of same-sex couples kissing and holding hands in the street while armored police trucks began to infiltrate the scene and confront the protesters.

YouTube videos show the activists shouting “No to homophobia,” while officers are seen aggressively pushing and handling them.

“The aggression was excessive towards the young people who gather each year in the main square to kiss against homophobia,” said George Liendo, a member of a Peruvian LGBT rights group called Promsex.

Liendo also said that although Peruvian authorities have banned protests of “any kind” in the square, religious and cultural demonstrations often take place without any trouble from the police.

You can watch some footage of what went down in the videos below.