Statement in support of women threatened with a 'device' for speaking

[JoanSummers]

A meeting planned by the women's rights group Woman's Place UK has been threatened that a "device" will be placed at the venue.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3278892-Womans-Place-UK-meeting-threatened-with-device

The device is allegedly being placed 'in retaliation' for the Hampstead Pool action taken by another women's rights group, #ManFriday, which is organised by a group of female Mumsnet contributors.

The Hastings Woman's Place event that has been threatened is likely to be attended by women from all over the UK, including many who are regular contributors to Mumsnet.

Given that Justine and MN have recently created new rules regulating the words which women may use here when speaking about women's rights, especially in the context of the current battle over gender, in which both Woman's Place UK and #ManFriday are involved, and that Justine's statement regarding these new rules begins:
"Mumsnet will always stand in solidarity with vulnerable or oppressed minorities. Mumsnet is also committed to freedom of speech."
www.mumsnet.com/info/trans-rights-moderation-policy

I would like to ask Justine and Mumsnet if they will make a further statement in light of this new threat against a women's meeting which multiple regular MN contributors will likely be attending, stating that Mumsnet stands in solidarity with women who are speaking and organising for women's rights, and condemning the actions of those who threaten them.

How about it?

[howfardoestherabbitholego]

Yes! @MNHQ

[Iseveryusernamealreadytaken]

Hear hear!

[EmpressOfSpartacus]

Yes. Are you standing in solidarity with these women, MNHQ?

[RaininSummer]

Yes. It is beyond disgusting that women's freedom to meet and to talk is being threatened in this way. It would be nice if a largely female forum would show support for those who are not the aggressors here.

[AlpacaLypse]

clicky link for you OP. And on my way over to read it!

[ParellelReality]

It's really not compulsory to be here on this free, anonymous site if you feel constantly wronged by it.

[PointlessTV]

I support #ManFriday and do not think it's acceptable to bomb these women who post on this forum.

[SugarButterFlour]

Well said OP

[JoanSummers]

ParallelReality
It's really not compulsory to be here on this free, anonymous site if you feel constantly wronged by it.

This site is providing a service. I am a woman and a mother in the UK and the Equality Act protects my rights to access this service just like it protects my right to access any other. I don't come here for the people who run it, any benefit they get from my contributions and clicks is fine by me, but I come here to listen and speak with other women and mothers.

If you object to me being here that's your tough luck!

[ParellelReality]

Not objecting to you being here at all. I object to the constant moaning, demands, histrionics and criticism and abuse of MNHQ. As if posters are paying for a service or as if it's a place they're forced to be.

[GeordieTerf]

Mumsnet's users are predominantly female. Thus, they should show solidarity with progressive inconvenient women.

[echt]

Not objecting to you being here at all. I object to the constant moaning, demands, histrionics and criticism and abuse of MNHQ. As if posters are paying for a service or as if it's a place they're forced to be

MNHQ is very happy indeed to have the description of "The UK's most popular website for parents", so yes they need to acknowledge this.

[ClareFlourish]

Is there any way to make a statement trans folk could support? Standing in solidarity with vulnerable or oppressed minorities means supporting trans people. Some weirdo- twitter.com/kfcwigger - has threatened AWP. He may be in the US, or indeed Russia.

Threats of violence against A Woman's Place are wrong. I am willing to say that to anyone who will listen. And I don't stand in solidarity with women who oppose the human rights of trans people, which are clear in international and European human rights law.

[Southfields]

Yesterday, Sussex Police released a statement that bomb making equipment was found in a house in Hastings.

This means that maybe the tweet was not a threat but a genuine warning that the local TRA are indeed planning a bomb.

Maybe it was when the police questioned the tweeter that they were led to the address? Why else did the police suddenly out of the blue decide to raid a specific house in Hastings?

[JoanSummers]

ParallelReality
I object to the constant moaning, demands, histrionics and criticism and abuse of MNHQ.
Where exactly in my OP have you found any of this?

As if posters are paying for a service or as if it's a place they're forced to be.
The Equality Act and basic human decency and ethics around provision of services stand regaress of whether those services are free or charged for.

Service users and customers have a right (some might even say we have a responsibility) to push service and product providers to better ethical positions and better representation of service users/customers needs.

If your best input on this is "I have nothing to say other than I'd prefer other people nit to speak" could you consider mumbling it quietly in a corner elsewhere rather than disrupting this thread which is on a serious topic.

[InLoveWithDavidTennant]

Yesterday, Sussex Police released a statement that bomb making equipment was found in a house in Hastings.

This means that maybe the tweet was not a threat but a genuine warning that the local TRA are indeed planning a bomb

[JoanSummers]

Is there any way to make a statement trans folk could support? Standing in solidarity with vulnerable or oppressed minorities means supporting trans people.

ClareFlourish - are you suggesting that any statement supporting women in these circumstances - let me remind you women are being issued with bomb threats for speaking and organising for women's rights - must centre the demands of trans people? Especially given that up to this point all threats and intimidation and harassment of Woman's Place UK meetings has been by trans activists?

[PointlessTV]

Clare, you could start a new thread with your statement, then pass a link around your community, asking they support by posting also?

[ParellelReality]

You are very critical of MNHQ across numerous threads so please don't pretend otherwise.

[echt]

You are very critical of MNHQ across numerous threads so please don't pretend otherwise

So what? The criticisms are well-applied, or not.

[howfardoestherabbitholego]

Why shouldn't MNHQ be held accountable, they have a lot of influence. Criticism of how they influence or choose not to influence when they hold such influential power is valid.

MN has a worldwide audience. They're not simply a little group who's stance on things doesn't reach those who don't actively use mumsnet

[JoanSummers]

ParellelReality

I am critical of Mumsnet's decision to infantilise intelligent adult female contributors by controlling the language we may use to discuss our basic biology and our rights. I am critical that Mumsnet has decided to force women contributors to play make believe games with words so as not to hurt anyone's feelings, especially the feelings of people who are apparently not even posting here but are instead whining on twitter.

I don't see what my being critical of these decisions has to do with my OP or whether I should continue to post here. If you continue to try and disrupt and derail this thread which is about women being warned they're being targetted with a bomb I will have to report your posts as basic trolling.

[Pratchet]

Yes please @mumsnet

Do please issue a statement supporting the right of women to gather and discuss their sex-based rights.

[PlectrumElectrum]

I'd like to see a statement of support too @MNHQ

So many are standing back, silent, while this onslaught keeps escalating.

[JoanSummers]

This has been up for three hours. How long does it usually take for a mod to see a post in here and acknowledge it?