Meghan Murphy talk at Toronto Library

[pombear]

The fantastic gnc_centric is tweeting live from the talk.
twitter.com/gnc_centric

I'm off to bed, cos UK and all, but couldn't see a thread about this.

It's Canada, which means 100% more attacks on Meghan's talk than we get in the UK.

Let's give her a bit of solidarity if you can.

For a group that claims to care about feelings, they seem to be dismissing the feelings of women and girls very easily.

The scenes outside as they were leaving were dreadful. Such hatred for women wanting to discuss their rights.

Was it filmed, does anyone know?

I believe so. There's quite a few clips floating around on Twitter.

Gawd so much hate for women talking

Why why why

As if the library hadn't suffered enough:

twitter.com/dyee276750/status/1189478933282131968

Well they refuse to go to the library anymore ⭐️👍

More seriously, the level of intimidation was pretty scary:

twitter.com/KamilKaramali/status/1189326532986187776

Suggesting Meghan Murphy is opposed to equal rights for people who identify as trans, as Kamil Karamali does, is a large part of the problem.

Meghan Murphy is in favour of equal rights for people who identify as trans. It is special privileges for people who identify as trans she is perfectly reasonably opposed to.

Aside from actual misogynist there must be some normal people in the mob who don't really know what they are protesting but have been told that they are protesting transphobia. It's scary. The amount of people who won't listen to women's concerns but just get ready to hate if the right words are used is scary.

It's awful. I don't understand why that level of intimidation is allowed. Surely it's contrary to free speech? There's a massive difference between right to peaceful protest and right to physically intimidate people who have a different view.
There's a clip going round Twitter just now of Obama saying criticising the 'wrong side' isn't activism; attacking people to get woke cookies isn't activism. Countries need to start legislating as though they believe that. Aggressive behaviour shouldn't have a get out of jail free card just because your hair is blue and you're carrying a placard.

For those who can't follow links, here are a couple of screenshots.
This one is the crowd people had to walk through to get into the library. The crowd isn't silent, they are chanting.

twitter.com/LizaVespi/status/1189407463453417472

I was surprised to see an almost fair piece on the BBC news website covering this - far more calm and in sympathy with the library and with Meghan Murphy than I expected from the been these days. I am hopeful that as this issue gets more light and air journalists are perhaps becoming aware that their readers might know something about it, and they can't just echo shrieks of "transphobia!" without a bit of pushback / scrutiny. Maybe. Hopefully.

This screenshot is is from Kamils thread on Twitter and shows the POV of people trying to leave the library. The crowd are heckling the attendees.

twitter.com/KamilKaramali/status/1189326532986187776

Kamil makes false claims about Megan Murphy.

''Here’s some background info leading up to #MeghanMurphy’s controversial speaking session. The self-described feminist, who is opposed to equal rights for transgender people, will be giving a talk on gender identity.''

twitter.com/KamilKaramali/status/1189292942323863557

They shouted at the women.

Walk of shame

Fuck you bitch

'"I contain multitudes, fear me"' - chanting this at women is not at all scary. I see a man on Twitter suggests that if a woman wanting to attend this meeting is scared by this mob, they should just not leave the house.

Funny, that.

While this was utterly horrendous, its definitely a getting a lot of publicity. I imagine a lot of Canadians are going to be googling Meghan Murphy today and thinking 'hang on...'

I hope so, JustTurtles. Because inevitably, people go hunting for 'hatred' and find reasonable argument. They might not agree with the arguments - fine - but nobody can ever come up with receipts for the alleged hatred. It's always fabricated, always.

I'm so in awe of the brave women who attend these events, I'd be absolutely terrified.

Wondering if any of the other protesters feel a glimmer of uncertainty when they find themselves chanting 'fear me' at a bunch of women attending a meeting ...

The chanting in unison bit made me think of the Borg (hasn't Star Trek got a history of filming in Toronto?!). "Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us."

Spooky.

this Wasn’t that far from me though out of reach for a weekday trip. Wish I could have been there to help support Meghan.

I wonder if a peaceful counter protest would be helpful. That is, in addition to those women with tickets, could some of us stay outside with placards supporting women’s rights?

I just read this line on the BBC website:

'She was also banned from Twitter for stating that "men aren't women" and for "misgendering" transgender women on the site. ' (My emphasis.)

I don't know much about this, but that would have peak transed me, if I want already there.

*wasn't

While I largely applaud the BBC's news app reporting on this, as a news item, it gives both sides of the argument. Fair enough.

But I think there still seems to be less stuff on the BBC's app that is unchallenged comment, with a TRA line.

Sorry badly edited by me. There is less gc comment than other comment, towing the TRA line.

www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/10/29/this-has-been-a-valuable-debate-toronto-librarian-says-some-good-has-come-from-meghan-murphy-controversy.html