LGBTQ Group Sends Message to Trump, Putin on Wall of Helsinki Presidential Palace: ‘Silence is Deadly’
4/ The world is watching — silence is deadly. #EyesOnChechnya pic.twitter.com/BdSzCKhDF5
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 16, 2018
A leading LGBT group projected a message for President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Presidential Palace just hours before the summit between the two leaders was set to take place.
“Trump and Putin: Stop the Crimes Against Humanity in Chechnya,” one message, displayed by the Human Rights Campaign read.
“The whole world is watching,” and “Silence is deadly” were also displayed on the walls of the palace where Trump and Putin are expected to meet.
“Last year, reports surfaced of Chechen authorities rounding up and detaining more than 100 men who were suspected of being gay or bisexual and 20 have been murdered. Today HRC confronted Trump and Putin in Helsinki over these crimes against humanity,” the group said in a tweeted out statement describing their action.
The statement continued on: “For more than 15 months, @realDonaldTrump has refused to publicly condemn the systematic torture, abuse and murder of LGBTQ people occurring in Chechnya as Vladimir Putin has licensed the violence to continue.”
3/Ahead of the Trump-Putin Summit, @HRC joined @bellvisuals to project a message onto the side of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki demanding that both leaders end the ongoing anti-LGBTQ crimes against humanity occurring in the Russian republic of Chechnya. #EyesOnChechnya pic.twitter.com/dldw5fRb3l
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 16, 2018
Protests have followed Trump throughout Europe and Finland has proven no exception. On Sunday, in addition to the HRC protest, thousands gathered in Helsinki in support of human rights and refugees.
