DUP minister says drag queen storytelling ‘compromised perception' of libraries being inclusive
He claimed that the event 'compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all'.
The event was held on Friday in the Holywood Arches Library in east Belfast and was organised by the regeneration charity EastSide Partnership.
The event was part of its Eastside Arts Festival and featured two drag queens, one of whom provided sign language interpretation.
'Drag Queen Story Time champions individuality and inclusivity amongst its young audiences, featuring singalongs and dancing, this event is suitable for all ages and families,' said a billing for the event.
However, a number of protesters gathered outside the public library and the storytelling had to be cancelled early as a result.
In a video circulated on social media, the two drag performers can be seen being escorted from the library by PSNI officers and taken away in a police vehicle.
One of the drag performers noted that they were reading 'Dear Zoo', which is a pop-up animal book for toddlers.
They said that the protestors 'would have been welcome' at the event and said they would 'happily' meet the protestors.
A PSNI spokesperson said that officers 'attended a report of a small demonstration and engaged with those present'.
'Two people were escorted from the building to further ensure that there would be no breach of the peace,' said the spokesperson.
Advertisement
They added that 'at this stage, no offences were determined to have taken place'.
Lyons said the event did not fall within Libraries NI's policy and that it was 'not appropriate for children'.
'I understand that Libraries NI was not the organiser and that it was a venue booking made by Eastside Arts Festival,' said Lyons.
'This event should not have taken place and it has compromised the perception of our public libraries as a welcoming and inclusive space for all as set out in the Libraries NI policy.'
Lyons also said he has 'directed my officials to liaise with Libraries NI to ensure that policy is faithfully implemented'.
Eastside Partnership has said that its annual Arts Festival has developed over the past 14 years into a programme which is 'inclusive, diverse and reflective of the interests and feedback from those who attend our events'.
It said that the 'Drag Queen Storytime with BSL Interpretation' is one of its 'longest-running events and returns every year based on the positive feedback from those who attend and engage with the event'.
'Over the years we have worked alongside the artists involved to ensure we provide a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for families to listen to age-appropriate stories.'
A spokesperson said that it has been 'made aware of an incident outside of the event venue' on Friday.
'To ensure safety and to minimise disruption we worked with local authorities to manage a safe exit for our attending families, staff and artists,' said Eastside Partnership.
The statement added: 'EastSide Arts Festival is committed to continue to develop a diverse, inclusive, safe, accessible and welcoming festival programme that celebrates and reflects all aspects of the community.'
-With additional reporting from Press Association
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Arrest of woman, 74, at Belfast rally criticised
A 74-year-old woman, who was arrested in Belfast for wearing a T-shirt expressing support for the banned organisation Palestine Action, has been released from police custody. She was detained during an anti-racism rally in the city yesterday. Police said she had been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. Videos posted online showed police officers in Belfast telling the woman she was being detained under anti-terrorism legislation for wearing the T-shirt in support of the organisation. It read: "We are all Palestine Action". In a video an officer is heard telling the woman she is being arrested under Article 13 of the Terrorism Act for "possession of an article namely a sign on a T-shirt that indicates support for Palestine Action." The woman offers passive resistance to her arrest. Several officers then lift, carry and drag her to a waiting police van which is driven off. In a statement the PSNI said: "A 74-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed organisation in the Linenhall Street area of Belfast on Saturday 9 August has been released pending a report to the public prosecution service." The woman's arrest was criticised by politicians and human rights activists. Northern Ireland Director of Amnesty UK Patrick Corrigan criticised the police, describing the woman's arrest as "outrageous". "Peaceful protest is a basic human right. Many people are justifiably angered by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are concerned about UK complicity. Under international human rights law, they have every right to voice their concerns. "The individual who joined a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast was not promoting violence, and it is wholly disproportionate for the PSNI to treat her as a terrorist. "UK terrorism laws pose a serious risk to free expression. Rather than targeting peaceful protesters, the government should be taking swift and decisive measures to end Israel's genocide." Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said an attempt was being made to criminalise people who chose to stand against the war in Gaza. "The British government's attempts to criminalise the Palestinian solidarity movement, and the subsequent actions of the PSNI in enforcing this draconian legislation, have been disgraceful. "While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out." Meanwhile in Derry yesterday, some of those who attended an anti-war protest in the city also flouted the law, displaying posters in support of Palestine Action. They said it was ironic that they could be criminalised for holding a poster, when the international community was failing to prevent a genocide in Gaza. In July, Palestine Action was added to a list of groups banned under UK terror legislation, which also covers Northern Ireland. MPs voted to ban the group after members broke into RAF Brize Norton in England and sprayed a number of military planes with paint. Palestine Action is due to challenge its prohibition in the UK courts in the autumn. Yesterday, in London, police arrested 474 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action, which has also carried out protests at firms it links to the Israeli military.
Irish Post
a day ago
- Irish Post
MLA condemns 'disgraceful' arrest of woman in Belfast after wearing Palestine Action t-shirt
AN MLA has condemned the arrest of a woman in Belfast, who was detained after wearing a T-shirt in support of Palestine Action. Sinn Féin's Pat Sheehan described the arrest as 'disgraceful', whle Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Director of Amnesty International UK, branded the PSNI's actions 'outrageous'. The arrest, in the Linenhall Street area of the city centre on Saturday, came on the same day that almost 500 people were arrested in London at a protest in support of Palestine Action. The group, which opposes the arms industry and Israel's occupation of Gaza, was proscribed earlier this year after spray-painting a plane at the RAF's Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire. Saturday's arrest in Belfast came during a Refugees Welcome rally, which was being held at the same time as an anti-immigration protest in the city centre. Footage shared online showed a PSNI officer telling the woman that she was being arrested under Article 13 of the Terrorism Act 'for possession of an article, namely a sign or on a T-shirt, that indicates support for Palestine Action'. The woman, whose T-shirt read 'We Are All Palestine Action', was then picked up and put in a police van, as other protesters chanted: "Let her go." The force later confirmed that a 62-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed organisation. 'Draconian legislation' Following the arrest, Mr Sheehan accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of trying to silence criticism of Israel. "The British Government's attempts to criminalise the Palestinian solidarity movement, and the subsequent actions of the PSNI in enforcing this draconian legislation, have been disgraceful," he said. "While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out. "Just yesterday, Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City. Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage. "Like all previous censorship attempts by the British Government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail. "Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain." 'Wholly disproportionate' Those words were echoed by Amnesty International's Mr Corrigan, who said terrorism laws pose a risk to peaceful protest. "The arrest of a protester in Belfast today under UK terrorism legislation is outrageous," he said. "Peaceful protest is a basic human right. Many people are justifiably angered by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and are concerned about UK complicity. Under international human rights law, they have every right to voice their concerns. "The individual who joined a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast was not promoting violence, and it is wholly disproportionate for the PSNI to treat her as a terrorist. "UK terrorism laws pose a serious risk to free expression. Rather than targeting peaceful protesters, the Government should be taking swift and decisive measures to end Israel's genocide." Mr Corrigan added that a man from the anti-immigration protest was detained by police after a missile was thrown at the Refugees Welcome rally. The PSNI confirmed a 43-year-old man had been arrested for disorderly behaviour and two other men were cautioned at the same location on suspicion of possession of an article that indicates support for a proscribed organisation. In London, the Metropolitan Police arrested 474 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action. Of those, 466 were detained under the Terrorism Act for support of a proscribed organisation. "The protesters in Parliament Square were not inciting violence and it is entirely disproportionate to the point of absurdity to be treating them as terrorists," said Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK. See More: Palestine, Palestine Action
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Woman wearing Palestine Action t-shirt arrested in Belfast
A woman wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt has been arrested at an anti-racism protest in Belfast city centre. It comes after the British Government in July made expressing support for or being a member of Palestine Action a criminal offence under terrorism legislation. In London, around 365 people were arrestedfor supporting the banned group after protesters gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday. People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll (Claudia Savage/PA) In Belfast, videos shared online show a woman wearing a Palestine Action t-shirt being told by police officers she was being arrested on suspicion of 'possessing an article, namely a sign or t-shirt, that indicates support for Palestine Action'. Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll condemned police action against pro-Palestine activists. He called on Executive ministers to 'speak up for the right to protest' and dismiss any charges people may face. 'The whole world can see the mass starvation and daily executions carried out by Israel, yet the people being harassed in Belfast are those who stand up for Palestine,' Mr Carroll said. 'On the same day we saw far-right protesters with offensive and provocative signage, including pro-Israel items, the police took it upon themselves to arrest activists for having the temerity to wear items of clothing in solidarity action. 'The British Government implemented a regressive clampdown with their vote to proscribe Palestine Action, without a single vote being cast in the local Assembly.' Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan said the British Government and PSNI's actions were 'disgraceful'. Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain 'While Keir Starmer continues to enable the ongoing Israeli genocide and starvation of Gazans, he is also moving to silence ordinary, decent people for speaking out,' he said. 'Just yesterday, (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu announced his intention to seize Gaza City. 'Yet still, Starmer provides cover for this rogue regime, instead targeting activists for highlighting what should be a universal moral outrage. 'Like all previous censorship attempts by the British Government, which is totally out of step with the wider public, this too will fail. 'Highlighting the ongoing devastation in Gaza is not a crime. The real crime is Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide, aided and abetted by the US and Britain.' The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
