Latest news with #SylvanAdams
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Activists protest Gaza war during Tour de France and call for Israeli team ban
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists waved flags and unfurled banners on Wednesday as the Tour de France peloton rode through Dieulefit, a southeastern French town honored as a "Town of the Just" for sheltering Jewish people during World War II. A house was draped with Palestinian flags and protesters waved dozens more by the roadside. Cries of "Free Palestine" echoed through the town, as the riders cycled through. One banner read "Affamer c'est tuer," meaning "Starving is killing." Vanessa Huguenin, who runs a family-owned department store in Dieulefit, a town of about 3,000 people, said the action had been planned for nearly two months to take advantage of the Tour's visibility. "We can't change Israel or Hamas, but we want our government to act, not just say 'it's not good,'" she said. Such protests about international politics are relatively rare in the three-week annual race, in which fans line the route as the riders tackle daily stages. A small protest over the war in Gaza occurred during the first stage of last year's edition. A man was also arrested on July 16 in Toulouse after running onto the final straight of the stage wearing a T-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour" and waving a black and white keffiyeh headdress. Through a loudspeaker on Wednesday, a protester shouted: "Mr. Adams, spokesperson for a genocidal army," referring to Sylvan Adams, co-owner of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team competing in the race. The protester called for the team to be kicked out. Israel has repeatedly rejected that its military operation in Gaza amounts to genocide. "Israel-Premier Tech respects everyone's right to free speech which includes the right to protest," said a statement from Israel-Premier Tech, which is Israel's first elite cycling team, founded in 2014. "Our focus is on racing and we continue to work closely with race organizers and relevant parties to ensure that any protests do not jeopardize team members' safety, nor impact races, or our right to participate." The team has been granted extra security on the Tour, with police officers stationed by the team bus. They were escorted by plain-clothed officers at the team's presentation in Lille. Huguenin, 45, said the town's history inspired residents to act and said the protest had been peaceful. "Here we say no one is a stranger. My grandparents hid people during the war. For us, being 'just' means protecting everyone, regardless of race or religion,' she said. The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for nearly two years since the Palestinian militant group killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages in the deadliest attack in Israel's history, Israeli tallies show. Israel has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, Gaza's health ministry says. It has decimated Hamas as a military force, reduced most of the territory to ruins and forced nearly the entire population to flee their homes multiple times. The man arrested last week said he was due to stand trial for endangering the riders and refusing to give his fingerprints. He says the security officer who tackled him threw his walkie-talkie at him. Race organizer, the Amaury Sports Organisation, declined to comment about either protest.
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Protestors at Tour de France call for end to war in Gaza
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists waved flags and unfurled banners on Wednesday as the Tour de France peloton rode through Dieulefit, a southeastern French town honoured as a 'Town of the Just' for sheltering Jewish people during World War Two. A house was draped with Palestinian flags and protesters waved dozens more by the roadside. Cries of 'Free Palestine' echoed through the town, as the riders cycled through. One banner read 'Affamer c'est tuer,' meaning 'Starving is killing.' Vanessa Huguenin, who runs a family-owned department store in Dieulefit, a town of about 3,000 people, said the action had been planned for nearly two months to take advantage of the Tour's visibility. 'We can't change Israel or Hamas, but we want our government to act, not just say 'it's not good',' she said. Gaza at risk of starvation, more than 100 aid groups warn Such protests about international politics are relatively rare in the three-week annual race, in which fans line the route as the riders tackle daily stages. A small protest over the war in Gaza occurred during the first stage of last year's edition. A man was also arrested last Wednesday in Toulouse after running onto the final straight of the stage wearing a T-shirt reading 'Israel out of the Tour' and waving a black and white keffiyeh headdress. Through a loudspeaker on Wednesday, a protester shouted: 'Mr Adams, spokesperson for a genocidal army,' referring to Sylvan Adams, co-owner of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team competing in the race. The protester called for the team to be kicked out. Israel has repeatedly rejected that its military operation in Gaza amounts to genocide. 'Israel-Premier Tech respects everyone's right to free speech which includes the right to protest,' said a statement from Israel-Premier Tech, which is Israel's first elite cycling team, founded in 2014. 'Our focus is on racing and we continue to work closely with race organisers and relevant parties to ensure that any protests do not jeopardise team members' safety, nor impact races, or our right to participate.' The team have been granted extra security on the Tour, with police officers by the team bus and they were escorted by plain-clothed officers at the team's presentation in Lille. Huguenin, 45, said the town's history inspired residents to act and said the protest had been peaceful. 'Here we say no one is a stranger. My grandparents hid people during the war. For us, being 'just' means protecting everyone, regardless of race or religion,' she said. The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for nearly two years since the Palestinian militant group killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages from southern Israel in the deadliest attack in Israel's history, Israeli tallies show. Israel has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, Gaza's health ministry says. It has decimated Hamas as a military force, reduced most of the territory to ruins and forced nearly the entire population to flee their homes multiple times. The man arrested last Wednesday said he was due to stand trial for endangering the riders and refusing to give his fingerprints. He says the security officer who tackled him threw his walkie-talkie at him. Race organisers Amaury Sports Organisation declined to comment about either protest.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Activists protest over Gaza during Tour de France, call for Israeli team to be barred
DIEULEFIT, France, July 23 (Reuters) - Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists waved flags and unfurled banners on Wednesday as the Tour de France peloton rode through Dieulefit, a southeastern French town honoured as a "Town of the Just" for sheltering Jewish people during World War Two. A house was draped with Palestinian flags and protesters waved dozens more by the roadside. Cries of "Free Palestine" echoed through the town, as the riders cycled through. One banner read "Affamer c'est tuer", meaning "Starving is killing". Vanessa Huguenin, who runs a family-owned department store in Dieulefit, a town of about 3,000 people, said the action had been planned for nearly two months to take advantage of the Tour's visibility. 'We can't change Israel or Hamas, but we want our government to act, not just say 'it's not good'," she said. Such protests about international politics are relatively rare in the three-week annual race, in which fans line the route as the riders tackle daily stages. A small protest over the war in Gaza occurred during the first stage of last year's edition. A man was also arrested last Wednesday in Toulouse after running onto the final straight of the stage wearing a T-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour" and waving a black and white keffiyeh headdress. Through a loudspeaker on Wednesday, a protester shouted: 'Mr Adams, spokesperson for a genocidal army," referring to Sylvan Adams, co-owner of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team competing in the race. The protester called for the team to be kicked out. Israel has repeatedly rejected that its military operation in Gaza amounts to genocide. "Israel-Premier Tech respects everyone's right to free speech which includes the right to protest," said a statement from Israel-Premier Tech, which is Israel's first elite cycling team, founded in 2014. "Our focus is on racing and we continue to work closely with race organisers and relevant parties to ensure that any protests do not jeopardise team members' safety, nor impact races, or our right to participate." The team have been granted extra security on the Tour, with police officers by the team bus and they were escorted by plain-clothed officers at the team's presentation in Lille. Huguenin, 45, said the town's history inspired residents to act and said the protest had been peaceful. 'Here we say no one is a stranger. My grandparents hid people during the war. For us, being 'just' means protecting everyone, regardless of race or religion,' she said. The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for nearly two years since the Palestinian militant group killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages from southern Israel in the deadliest attack in Israel's history, Israeli tallies show. Israel has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, Gaza's health ministry says. It has decimated Hamas as a military force, reduced most of the territory to ruins and forced nearly the entire population to flee their homes multiple times. The man arrested last Wednesday said he was due to stand trial for endangering the riders and refusing to give his fingerprints. He says the security officer who tackled him threw his walkie-talkie at him. Race organisers Amaury Sports Organisation declined to comment about either protest.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestinian demonstrator arrested at Tour de France
A protestor wearing a t-shirt reading "Israel out of the Tour" was arrested on Wednesday after running onto the final straight of the Tour de France 11th stage. The protestor, who was also holding a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, got past security barriers and ran towards the finish line in Toulouse as Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen won a sprint finale. The man was intercepted by a race staff member and arrested, the local prefecture said. Several police officers have been assigned to protecting the Israel-Premier Tech team during the Tour. The team was set up by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, but there are no Israeli riders in this year's race. With the Gaza war causing international controversy, last year the team said it had asked its riders not to wear jerseys with any reference to Israel while out training as a precaution. The Gaza war sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 58,573 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. bur-dmc/chv/mw/tw
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Pro-Palestinian protester arrested at Tour de France in Toulouse
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator was arrested after running onto the final stretch of the Tour de France 11th stage on Wednesday. The protester, wearing a shirt that read 'Israel out of the Tour' and holding a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, breached security barriers and sprinted toward the finish line as Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen secured victory. Race officials quickly intercepted the man, and local authorities confirmed his arrest. The incident occurred amid heightened security for the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, backed by Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. Although no Israeli riders are competing this year, police have been assigned to protect the team due to ongoing tensions linked to the Gaza conflict. Last year, the Israel-Premier Tech team advised its riders to avoid wearing jerseys referencing Israel during training as a precaution. The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has led to significant casualties. An AFP tally reports 1,219 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, while Gaza's health ministry states 58,573 Palestinian fatalities, predominantly civilians. - AFP
