London Mayday Organising Committee response to incident on May Day
“We have have received some contact re an incident that took place on May Day involving what we have been told was between two feminists and a group of what have been called trans activists. Although conscious of some of this on the day, no one contacted us or the stewards on the day with specific details. We had received no media enquiries.
We received emails, raising the same points (see details at end of this email), yesterday and were also contacted by the Morning Star. At that point we needed to try and obtain some information so we could respond.
We have responded to the emails in the following way –
Thank you for your contact. We have sought to obtain details from our people in the Square but this process is not yet complete.
We became aware of an incident going on when the speakers had started (once the March was in the Square) and, as soon as we were, stewards went to try and resolve it – at that point, particularly with the speeches going on through the PA, we could not hear what was being said or know what was the cause of the argument that was going on. Stewards sought to resolve the incident and thought there was agreement for both parties to separate and move away. It was not made clear to stewards what had been said and different arguments were being made by all those involved. If we had been made aware of the details of any racist or insulting comments or assaults we would have responded immediately. No one came forward to the main stewards and organisers around the plinth about the issues which would have given us the opportunity to try and identify those making such attacks.
When we were visually aware of the dispute our immediate priority was to end any confrontation and ensure the safety of anyone and that was done. After the first intervention there was a further coming together on the opposite side of the Square which our stewards again intervened to curtail but at that point two police intervened and effectively took over.
We would welcome any information about those involved (as they had no banners or identifying marks) so we could follow up. Certainly no organisation or group identified themselves as attending the March from such a position or communicated with us in advance. We conduct extensive contact with the many organisations that take part on May Day to ensure any political differences do not affect the unity that marks May Day. We also on May Day seek to encourage the widest possible involvement of different organisations, if they accept working together to celebrate May 1st.
You will understand we are a group of organisations that come together solely for the celebration of May Day and have no full time positions, so act within those constraints.
We would welcome any contact from the two women involved as we want to get as much information as possible.
The London May Day Organising Committee condemns totally any racist or misogynist language or attacks and such views are totally at odds with the spirit of May Day and are not accepted on the march. We have a very long and consistent history on each May Day in clearly expressing anti-racist policies and fighting for equality and human rights. We have made that position known widely.
If you have any information you can add please let us know or if you have any comments you may wish to make. Because this was not raised with us on May Day it has made any enquiries very difficult.”
Please email [email protected]
(This was posted by WPUK on their facebook page, not sure where it came from)