Trans People Launch High Street Protest Against Sale of Harry Potter Merchandise

[IwantToRetire]

Trans rights activists launched a peaceful protest outside Waterstones in Guildford this afternoon (May 16), chalking messages on the pavement to draw people’s attention to the company’s marketing of Harry Potter merchandise.

Protest group Defund Transphobes says Harry Potter author JK Rowling uses money from the sale of merchandise to fund what they describe as her “anti trans campaign”.

Continues at https://guildford-dragon.com/trans-people-launch-high-street-protest-against-sale-of-harry-potter-merchandise/

Is it not extremism (rather than 'as bad as' extremism) to want to ban books that win literary prizes from book shops because some nutter doesn't like them?

saying that I am just as bad as an extremist is one of the most hurtful things somebody has ever said about me

From what I gather it is you that is comparing Salman Rushdie to Hitler.

I accept that this seems to be because of ignorance rather than ill intent, but if one of your most hurtful experiences is receiving criticism on an anonymous thread, you are doing a lot better than Salman Rushdie.

At the very least, you should investigate the background of the books that are banned in your book group. It might save you some embarrassment in the future.

saying that I am just as bad as an extremist is one of the most hurtful things somebody has ever said about me.

But you ARE an extremist. You've referred/alluded to people as Nazis, transphobes and Islamophobes - you think you're one of the good guys but actually you've horse-shoe'd round to be just as bad as the people you condemn with your intolerance, banning of books and denouncing of those with whom you disagree. You're soooo progressive and inclusive that you're utterly intolerant of anyone who doesn't comply

Honestly, get a bloody grip.

I suppose it is quite extreme. In this case it seems to be coming more from ignorance. I guess I was thinking more in terms of terrorism/violence than book banning.

Of course many trans rights activists are no strangers to threats of violence either.

Honestly, I would vote for a "Get A Bloody Grip" party

These boycotts have not affected JKR at all her income is going up. In fact as in the case of Hogwarts Legacy they just advertise the product more.

The HP TV series drops at Christmas. They should be getting ready to boycott that unsuccessfully.

If you read the article in the OP what the protesters are complaining about is Waterstones selling HP merchandise. They seem to have enough self-awareness to realise that actually calling for the books to be banned would be a very bad look but are otherwise quite deluded.

One of the activists, named West, said: “Waterstones is one of the biggest sellers of non literary Harry Potter items and JK Rowling takes that money and uses it to promote her online fund.”
She claimed: “Anyone in England and Scotland can apply and she will fund your court cases against trans individuals, trans rights and trans supportive businesses, so it’s a direct pipeline of all the Harry Potter money that is going directly to the erasure of trans rights. The majority of people aren’t aware that this is happening.
“You can no longer separate the art from the artist unfortunately. If you support Harry Potter as a franchise you also support trans erasure financially. So we are here to raise awareness about that.”

Nope. Of course Waterstones should stock Rushtie's books, i think book burning went out of fashion with the fall of nazi germany, don't be silly.

The merchandise sales which support Lumos, the charity JKR founded to help vulnerable children in orphanages?

They are such heroes.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it. They are trying to raise awareness of something she isn’t doing.

Indeed, anyone with eyes and a brain could spot that "trans" is essentially a Men's Rights movement, led by some very dodgy rich old blokes.

"Defund Transphobia" is a nationwide campaign organising on social media.

Volunteers wanted for Defunding Transphobia Campaign!

Jes (who came to the last Fem Group) and Sarah (who both organised the trans rights protest on Friday 18th), are planning a campaign to defund transphobia based on their experiences of running animal rights campaigns.
It’s a nationwide campaign with an aim to have actions in 30 cities, but you can get involved in the local chapter without leaving Leeds.

www.facebook.com/TransLeeds/posts/volunteers-wanted-for-defunding-transphobia-campaignjes-who-came-to-the-last-fem/1128242146016346/

Phew! And you're still alive to tell the tale. Amazing.

If only!!! The queues at the Women's toilets would be so much shorter.

And that's how we know "trans women" are men. Male violence against women. Old as the hills. If women won't shut up just threaten to rape and kill them, patriarchy's oldest playbook.

Unsafe?! What do you mean by "unsafe"?

Women having rights, spaces, their own needs met = trans erasure.

How dare she help women protect themselves.

Madder than a box of bloody frogs.

What do you mean by standing up for what is right ? What is right ? And who in their right mind feels unsafe walking into Waterstones because of a plastic Harry Potter on the shelf

I think I have found why HP merch is unsafe.

House scarves are quite a popular item. Waterstones are selling them with the sole intention of terfs using them strangle transwomen.

Quite.

You might well though feel 'unsafe' (as in actually at risk of harassment, being shouted at or worse) when you have to walk through a bunch of obviously unstable people ranting and chalking on the pavement in order to get into the bookshop.

Which was the point. To put off customers, to make the bookshop staff feel threatened.

This was an attempt to intimidate and control. While whining unconvincingly about 'feeling unsafe'. Cry bullying on crack.

"Trans erasure"

In the word's of Laura Linney's character in Love Actually, no one wants you dead, babe. Still, I should imagine this boycott and the one against the new HBO series will go as well as the Hogwarts Legacy boycott.

Doesn't surprise me that there's a cross-over with this and the animal rights lot. Violence was baked in to that too, a friend can remember their parents checking the family car for bombs just because one of their parents worked for a drug company.

Still, @InstantlyBella, we're all waiting to hear what it is about Waterstones selling HP merchandise that is 'unsafe'.

Bookshops were firebombed by the thugs who took against one of Rushdie's books. Late 80s/early 90s if memory serves. Brainless book-burning terrorists.

Every time we think the world has moved on, some halfwits come along to ruin everything for everyone. Like the fruitcakes who are obsessed with maligning Harry Potter instead of reading something they actually like instead.

And now I've broken my swearing off message boards policy. Again.

😂😂😂😂

Probably just as well. Colliding with anyone could be painful and no one wants to bump into a terrorist.

Or an apostate Salmon, come to that.