International equality organisation All Out has announced that 19 public demonstrations will be held on Wednesday, February 5, calling on sponsors of the Sochi Olympics to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay laws.

All Out members in Paris, London and New York and 16 other cities will tomorrow gather wearing red in locations of significance to sponsors ­– such as McDonald’s in Times Square in New York – with the message “Olympic Sponsors Speak Out Now”, “Russia, we’re with you / No to the anti-gay laws”, and “Principle 6: Sport does not discriminate”.

Principle 6 of the Olympic charter states that discrimination based on “race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise” is incompatible with Olympic ideals.

“The International Olympic Committee has confirmed that Principle 6 includes discrimination based on sexual orientation,” said All Out Executive Director, Andre Banks, “but sponsors continue to look the other way while gays and lesbians in Russia suffer.”

“Olympic sponsors are failing to live up to their commitment,” said Banks.

The Sochi 2014 Olympics runs February 7 – 23.