Trans activist left bloodied after violent clashes with far-right protesters outside pub hosting drag queen story time event for children
- Groups clashed outside story time event at the Honor Oak pub in South London
A transgender activist has been beaten up after a clash with far-right protesters outside a drag queen story time event.
The trans group claimed that yesterday morning they were attacked while standing outside the Magical Storytelling time event for children at the Honor Oak pub in Lewisham, South London.
The reading session was hosted by drag queen That Girl, who has disputed claims by Turning Point UK that the storytelling session is not suitable for children.
Clashes outside the pub between the two groups are reportedly a monthly occurrence.
The Met Police confirmed in a statement that two people had been arrested for assault and a third for a public order offence.
Several of the trans activists were reportedly left nursing wounds, and said the far-right protesters confronted their group before becoming violent, with even a window at the pub getting smashed, according to the Telegraph.
A transgender activist (pictured) was beaten up by far-right protesters yesterday morning outside a drag queen story time event
Pictured: Protesters in support and against Drag Queen Story Hour demonstrate outside The Honor Oak Pub, separated by lines of police officers yesterday morning
Far-right demonstrators held banners in protest of the drag queen story time event
Around 50 Right-wing demonstrators were present, and held up banners saying: ‘Protect our Children: There is no such thing as a “trans child”‘ and ‘leave our children alone.’
Trans rights activists responded with banners that said: ‘Love is a human right’ and ‘don’t let the far right divide us: Defend LGBT+ communities.’
Some members of the far-right group are said to belong to traditional parties such as the Football Lads Alliance and Blood & Honour which are linked to extreme Right-wing National Front, British National Party and British Movement.
Others were said to be part of conservative Turning Point UK, which is a youth organisation seeking to challenge the view that young people are more likely to be Left-wing.
Turning Point UK said in a statement: ‘There were no far-Right activists in attendance and instead the radical trans-activists attacked attendees of our demonstration with wooden clubs.’
A statement on the pub’s website published before yesterday’s incident read: ‘It has come to our attention that there may be some misunderstanding about the event, so we wanted to reassure you all that our popular Magical Storytelling event will be age appropriate and it isn’t anything different to what families will see and experience together in a theatre.
‘This event is an opportunity for families and friends to come together and listen to a reading of a storybook and have fun. The most important thing for us is that everyone is safe and happy when they are here.’
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