In Paris, a city known for its grandeur and cultural history, a confrontation unfolded on Monday. A bus decorated with a protest message against the Olympic opening ceremony roamed the streets. By evening, French police had halted it at gunpoint, arresting its driver and six Christian campaigners from CitizenGO.
CitizenGO, a conservative advocacy group based in Madrid, organizes its activism primarily through online petitions. Their message, stark and direct, demanded an end to what they perceived as ongoing attacks on Christians. The bus’s bold lettering read, “STOP ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS,” sparking a series of events that would end with the team spending a night in jail.
The group’s ire was aimed at the International Olympic Committee. They objected to the opening ceremony, which they claimed mocked the Last Supper with drag queens, exposed male genitalia, and an obese lesbian DJ in the place of Jesus. Their petition against this spectacle had garnered over 387,000 signatures by Wednesday.
“What happens if we stay silent?” their petition questioned. It painted a dire picture of Christian symbols becoming parodies promoted by various lobbies and supported by global leaders. “This was a deliberate and vicious parody humiliating our most cherished beliefs,” it continued. “We cannot allow them to desecrate our Lord Jesus Christ with such obscenities.”
The group’s ordeal in custody was harsh. They were strip-searched and denied access to lawyers and even water. Ignacio Arsuaga, CitizenGO’s founder, suggested the arrests were politically motivated, accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of ordering the police intervention. He announced plans to sue Macron, the prosecutor, and the police.
“Woke governments are becoming increasingly totalitarian,” Arsuaga declared.
CitizenGO’s legal team secured the release of the detainees by 4 a.m. the following day. Their lawyer contended that the protest was lawful and the police action unjustified. “It appears impossible to constitute the crime of failing to communicate a protest because there is no protest in the presence of one unique vehicle,” the lawyer argued.
The incident drew significant attention, even catching the eye of X CEO Elon Musk, who responded to CitizenGO’s tweet with two exclamation marks.
CitizenGO’s influence spans 15 cities on three continents. It campaigns in 11 languages to shape policies in 50 countries.
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