Calling all London Spartaci!!!!

[CuntAmongstThePigeons]

For anyone interested there is a debate about the new legislation and gender this Wednesday evening in South London

Miranda Yardley and the Julia Long are speakers. I will definitely be attending so hope to see a few of you there.

www.list.co.uk/event/20974934-what-is-the-meaning-of-gender-the-gender-recognition-act-and-beyond/

So I've just left the pub after the meeting and I'm on my way home. Everyone is fine although I think some are a bit shaken.

I'll do a quick rundown of what happened. I arrived a bit late. People were milling round peaceful at speakers corner. There were two basic factions. TRAs which could be identified by their signs and their multi coloured hair. I was probably there for about 10 mins of milling around before they started chanting and I decided to slip off to the location.

At some point during this Miranda took a picture of one of the activists who then stole his phone and tried to run off with it. Miranda did get it back and took a cab to the venue, losing the activists who tried to follow.

Once I arrived at the venue we waited for about 40 mins as people arrived in drinks and drabs, trying to avoid being followed. Unfortunately when the last group arrived they were unable to lose the activists and they attempted to enter the venue. When this was denied they started shouting outside.

We then heard about the attack against the woman. From what I heard (although all second hand) they objected to her filming them. Attacked her, smashing her phone to the ground and then hit her and pushed her to the ground. There was one main instigator who was a MTT. I don't know if the others were MTT or women. The majority of protesters were female bodied. The police were here but it didn't seem like they were that helpful.

With all of those was started very late and the protesters kept chanting outside it was a relatively small group by this stage. Maybe 6-7 but they were making quite a disturbance in a quiet and very upmarket part of town with lots of 5* hotels. The police came but were protecting the protesters.

With all of this the venue asked us to leave before we were finished (although probably not before the time we had originally booked the room for.) both speakers spoke as did Sheila Jeffries (wish I'd have known she'd be there-I'd have brought something to be signed!)

We then left as a group and split up in different directions but met up in a pub in a different part of town and had a few drinks and a chat. That was probably the best part for me. Really great to meet other Rad Fems in London. I have told them all about the TERFyness of Mumsnet so I hope some join.

Countess, as far as I can see,left, right and middle are all on their side,in terms of politicians.

Still not sure what the public in general feel.

I'm so glad you all got out OK.

X post
Glad you are all right

Majority protestors actual born women? That's depressing.

On the train home. I missed the incident entirely. We were all milling around at speakers corner and the plan was to leave separately so that the activists didn't know who to follow, and Miranda who was very identifiable and therefore easy to follow, took a cab. The protest was, frankly, lacklustre. They had one poster, and every 15 minutes shouted out something about terfs. To be honest it was shaping up to be something of a damp squib.

Me, DS and three other women (including Lily Maynard) went and had a drink, because the plan was to meet at eight at a very specific, private location (little pieces of paper with the postcode were handed out discreetly).

When we got to the location (a private members club) two female transactivists were objecting to the fact that they weren't allowed in, arguing with the doorman.

He eventually came out and put his arm across them so they couldn't enter whilst allowing us through.

We had entirely missed the incident with the poor woman. But people were very upset. A young girl started crying in my arms because she had engaged with the TRAs and was now suffering from shock/ adrenaline/emotion.

The talk went ahead amidst the chanting and shouting outside. It was rushed because it had started late. Suddenly the organiser said we had to wrap it up, because of complaints about the noise.

The plan was to meet at the pub in Leicester Square. Which we did.

I met Julia Long, Sheila Jeffreys and Miranda. As well as pencilsonspace and CuntAmongstThePigeons. Which was a huge highlight.

On leaving the original venue, the police presence was evident. Two women were yelling and telling everyone to fuck off. They were banging on about transwomen being their sisters. I asked them whether transmen were also their sisters/brothers.

Unfuckingsurprisingly I got a slightly confused look and a yeah whatever.

I am hoping that someone recorded the incident. Either way, this poor woman ended up with a bruised face. And transactivists are trying to wriggle out of their disgusting violence.

On the plus side, my son went from interested to radical feminist ally over the course of the evening.

Very glad to hear that some of you went along, met each other, met the speakers and, in the end, enjoyed a chat and a drink.

Coincidentally, I have just today received a response from my MP, Maria Caulfield, to my letter outlining concerns about the GRA. She essentially said sweet FA about the issue herself but had forwarded my letter to Nick Gibb. Here is his beige response -

www.feministcurrent.com/2015/10/05/a-thank-you-note-to-carceralsex-negative-feminists/

Carceral femenists are sometimes called sex-negative as they are not only TERFs but also SWERFs.

Or opposed to prostitution and the trafficking and sexual slavery it causes.

See this thread for the statement by the woman who was beaten. It's posted by fair play for women, posted Thursday 3:30 AM.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3033126-London-meeting-to-discuss-Gender-Identity-attacked-by-transactivists

Glad you're Ok Datun. Sorry that what should have been an interesting debate with clever and thoughtful speakers was wrecked by intolerant idiots.

True colours have been shown by the TRAs all right, if we hadn't known it before, we know it now: they have no interest in debate, compromise, or furthering understanding. They just want us to STFU.

That's not going to happen.

Really pleased to hear you're ok Datun and others.
I've read that the majority of protesters were women (in the true sense of the word). If that's right I find that more depressing than the MTT protestors acting out the usual behaviours to try and silence women.

Here is the film of the attack. The woman in the red coat is the organiser of the event.

m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=o48Bb5CM9XE

Have the police been shown that video?

What happened was terrible, and I hope the media pick it up but (sorry!) Were the speakers good? What did they talk about ? Any new stuff or just what we talk about amongst ourselves here?

I'm glad posters from here are ok.

Theaveragewife, I am confident that the women who witnessed this will make sure the police will get the video.

(Not to mention screenshots, witness statements, etc. This was organised violence and the Facebook posts provide ample evidence of that.)

This might sound stupid, but I'm really shocked at how many of the TRA protestors are women. Obviously ive seen it online before but seeing them and hearing their voices it just beggars belief.

I went to the debate because i wanted to discuss the new legislation and hear a range of views. Very disappointed that didn't happen as the event was first cancelled and then cut short. I don't think it's in anyone's interest to close down discussion. And the violence and threats beforehand are obviously horrific.

I've been waiting to see that video after hearing all about it on Facebook - it looks like the woman who was punched was holding onto one of the TRAs?? Was that to get her phone back? It's really confusing as the video looks like they were trying to get her off someone she was holding?

Thanks Datun for posting the video and the link to the other thread. The footage is shocking.

I am not surprised that there were/are many women TAs. There is a certain naïveté and a compulsion to "do good" that gets in the way of fact or reason. MTF TAs plead hurt and violence against them and the soft left follows.

*TRAs.

Fecks sake! My phone thinks I'm talking about teaching assistants!

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt that their punching her was 100% wrong, I'm just worried about it being misconstrued

This is censorship and it's not even subtle.

Very angry that this happened and thanks for the posts and updates. Glad everyone is safe.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine

It was mostly just what we talk about here. Although, it was curtailed, due to late starting and then being shut down because of the rabble outside.

Both Julia and Miranda, quite literally, had to talk at double speed. And they couldn't finish.

The entire room was a sea of mostly middle-aged women. With some younger women. One had turned up on her pushbike, another was wearing a tweed suit.

Jam and Jerusalem would not have looked out of place.

Contrast that with the thuggery at speakers' corner and the constant yelling of 'fuck off' and 'terfs hate - no debate' mantra.

I am incandescent with rage and outrage.

A woman was robbed of her camera and then beaten when she tried to defend herself.

The two young women who remained outside the venue whilst everyone dispersed had the light of mania in their eyes. I attempted to talk to them, I was told to fuck off several times. They were filled with hate. Young, well dressed, well spoken.

Miranda tried to talk to them too, as they were claiming sisterhood with transwomen. He said I'm a transwoman, he came in for the same treatment. (He goes by male pronouns, I'm not misgendering).

I completely agree with other people that this was deliberately organised with violence as the goal. The website calling to arms, has pre-printed pages on what to do if arrested. I think they would love to have been arrested, to be honest.

And, I can easily believe that there were some men, who knew nothing about the trans-ideology, but just wanted to beat up women.

This is a hate filled, misogynistic campaign. These men are not addressing or attacking the other men who are violent towards them. They hate women. Claiming feminists are responsible for the deaths of trans-women is as ludicrous as it is false.

But these men really don't need an excuse. All the fairytales in the world aren't necessary for them to justify their violence. It's an end in itself.

And yes, women too. Although I think the beating was more the men.

The woman who was beaten was trying to keep hold of her phone

Wowl, if you read Maria's own account posted at 4.26am on the other thread it is all clearer.