Latest news with #JanChristianSmuts
The Herald Scotland
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trans protest to be held in Birmingham following rallies in London and Edinburgh
It means that trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in women's sports, according to the head of Britain's equalities watchdog. Organisers of the Birmingham rally said the demonstration will aim to show solidarity with those affected by the ruling, which they say has far-reaching implications for transgender people accessing single-sex services and spaces. People from trans rights groups and community organisations take part in a rally organised by Resisting Transphobia outside Queen Elizabeth House, the UK Government building in Edinburgh (Lesley Martin/PA) Brendan McPhillips, one of the organisers of the event, said the city would be presenting a 'united front against hatred and discrimination'. He said: 'This protest is set against the historic backdrop of the gay panic, the lives lost to the AIDS crisis, and reminiscent of the fights from yesteryear that only yester-queers will fully understand. We have seen this hate before and now we must stand united against it once again. 'We stand in a united front, united with a single, common goal; for the BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of colour), Asian, white, brown, black, Irish traveller and Romani trans, non-binary and intersex voices that have been ignored for too long.' Among the groups supporting the protest, which will be held at 6pm in front of the Birmingham HIV and Aids Memorial in Hurst Street, are Brum Against Hate, the Birmingham LGBT centre and trade unions including Unison and the National Education Union. Graffiti left on a statue of Jan Christian Smuts in Parliament Square, London (Andrew Matthews/PA) Thousands of supporters gathered in central London on Saturday for what was billed as an 'emergency demonstration' in response to the Supreme Court's ruling. The Metropolitan Police said it is examining footage from the event amid claims some demonstrators had placards featuring death threats. It is also appealing for witnesses after seven statues were vandalised during the protest. 'Fag rights' and a heart were painted on the banner held on the statue of suffragist Millicent Fawcett, and 'trans rights are human rights' was sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Police U-turn on refusal to investigate 'historic' trans activists' death threat signs - after realising they happened at the weekend
Police are investigating death threats on placards seen during a protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. A number of activists were pictured holding signs threatening violence towards 'TERFS' - including disturbing images of people being stabbed and hanged - while taking part in Saturday's protest in Central London. While most held up placards fighting for trans rights, two signs spotted at the rally in Parliament Square showed an illustration of hangman alongside the words 'The only good TERF is a .... TERF'. The term 'TERF' is used to describe people whose views on gender identity are seen as hostile towards transgender people. Meanwhile, another sign showed an image of a man with a bloodied knife stuck in his eye, alongside the caption: 'Are you a... transphobe? Why not try a... D.I.Y. LOBOTOMY.' The Met Police said it was reviewing footage of the protest and vowed to take action if there were signs being displayed that broke the law. But it claimed the images and signs were from 'historic events, did not take place in London, or do not constitute a criminal offence'. The force has since changed its stance after the Telegraph reportedly presented it with evidence that the signs were present during the protest on Saturday. A third graphic sign read: 'Trans women are women. Trans men are men. If you don't like that, go s*** somewhere else.' Examples on the sign of where to do that included 'on a pile of Harry Potter books' or 'on the head of another TERF'. Protestors also targeted a number of statues in the capital. The Metropolitan Police said they were investigating the incidents as criminal damage after the statues were daubed with graffiti. Notably, a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett was defaced with a banner reading 'F** rights'. Millicent Fawcett was a pioneer for women's rights and led the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and advocated for women's rights through peaceful, non-violent methods, including lobbying and public speaking. Other defaced statues included those of Jan Christian Smuts, Nelson Mandela, Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Derby and Viscount Palmerston. Parliament square is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi. Officers are currently searching through CCTV footage from the surrounding area to find the culprits and are appealing to anyone who may have been in attendance with information, footage or pictures to come forward by calling 101 quoting 01/7396927/25. Chief Superintendent, Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said: 'Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting. 'While the police support the public's right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible. 'Working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans are underway to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly. 'We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward.' The protest came days after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are no longer considered women in the eyes of the law. The ruling means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if 'proportionate'.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trans opponents of Supreme Court gender ruling accused of 'wishful thinking' and being 'fuelled by misunderstanding' in fight against decision
Opponents of the Supreme Court 's ruling on the definition of a woman have been accused of 'wishful thinking' and being 'fuelled by misunderstanding' as they fight against the decision. Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Akua Reindorf argued the ruling gives a complex topic a 'model of clarity'. Last week the Supreme Court ruled that within the 2010 Equality Act, the term 'women' relates to biological women. Despite judges warning that its judgment should not be taken as a 'triumph' for either side, gender critics including JK Rowling were quick to celebrate the ruling. Writing in the Times this week, Ms Reindorf described the judgment as 'a decisive moment in the long and bitter political conflict between gender-critical women's rights campaigners and advocates for trans rights'. Responding to criticism of the judgment, she added: 'Lively critical discussion is vital to civic life and democratic participation. 'Unfortunately, on this occasion much of it has been fuelled by misunderstanding, wishful thinking and distortion.' Last week the EHRC said the ruling would have far-reaching implications for the trans community, and could mean they are excluded from spaces which are reserved for their self-identified gender. It comes after thousands of activists took to the streets in London and Edinburgh over the weekend in protest of the ruling. Many waved posters and banners supporting trans rights. While the protests were peaceful, after activists left it emerged that seven statues had been defaced in Parliament Square with graffiti. The statues of Jan Christian Smuts, Nelson Mandela, Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, Millicent Fawcett, Earl of Derby and Viscount Palmerston were all affected. 'F** rights' and a heart were chalked onto the banner held by suffragist Millicent Fawcett, and 'trans rights are human rights' were spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts. Chief Superintendent, Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said: 'Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting. 'While the police support the public's right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible. 'Working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans are underway to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly. 'We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward. Please call 101, quoting 01/7396927/25.' The Metropolitan Police are hunting for the trans-rights activists who have defaced a number of statues in Westminister Seven statues, including the Millicent Fawcett statue, were defaced with graffiti during a protest against the Supreme Court ruling on Saturday (Graffiti says 'F** rights') Meanwhile members of the trans community and allies have vowed to continue using bathrooms that align with their gender rather than biological sex. The finding that the definition of a woman in equality law is based on biological sex means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if deemed 'proportionate'. A group of trans activists have proudly posted a video from inside some female toilets. In the video, transgender females are stood in cubicles inside the bathrooms, one by one saying 'where I do my business is none of your business'. After the ruling, Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan declared, 'I still see myself as a woman, whether I am on paper or not'. 'I hate to say this, but for the first time since I have had that title and role I actually do feel nervous and scared not only for myself but for the community because it's the unknown,' she told Good Morning Britain. Trans influencers railed against the judgment on social media by posting videos of their horrified reactions, with one - Bel Priestly - telling her 1.4million followers that Britain was 'going backwards'. Ant Lexa, who plays Abbi Montgomery in Netflix series Sex Education, described feeling 'heartbroken'. The Sex Education star is one of the most prominent public figures to have spoken out against the judgment. 'Getting myself out of bed this morning was hard after receiving this news,' she told Channel 4 News. 'I am, first and foremost, a woman. That doesn't feel like some political stance. It just feels like who I am. And it has always felt like who I am. 'So not being recognised within law, especially a law that is designed to protect us, and that was why it was there, just feels terrifying. 'Not even about today, but the precedent that it's setting for not just the UK, but across the world. It just has left me feeling unprotected.' And Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan, who is a member of the LGBT+ community, hit out at JK Rowling after she celebrated the ruling with champagne and cigars on her $150 million superyacht. The actor shared an article headlined: 'This is a new low for JK Rowling' before taking a dig at HBO's new Harry Potter series, writing: 'Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole'. Last week, 38-year-old Coughlan also shared a video voicing her disgust at what she called a 'stomach-churning' Supreme Court ruling. 'To see an already marginalised community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting,' she said. 'Make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community at large know that you are there for them and will keep fighting for them.' The video was shared to announce the launch of a new fundraiser - which has already raised more than £100,000 - spearheaded by the actor in support of trans charity Not A Phase.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police appeal for information after statues daubed with graffiti during trans rights rally
Seven statues were daubed with graffiti during a trans rights protest in London on Saturday. Parliament Square was packed with thousands of supporters who gathered for what was billed as an 'emergency demonstration' days after a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. 'Fag rights' and a heart were painted on the banner held by Millicent Fawcett, and 'trans rights are human rights' was sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts. Plans are under way to remove the graffiti, but specialist equipment will need to be brought in, the Metropolitan Police said. The square is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi. READ MORE: Supermarket cheese that costs £3.80 named best in UK - beating iconic Cathedral City READ MORE: The 'forgotten' village on Manchester's doorstep that's popular with walkers and cyclists in the know No arrests have been made, but officers are investigating, Scotland Yard said. Chief Supt Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said: "Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting. "While the police support the public's right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible. "Working with the Greater London Authority, plans are under way to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly. We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward." Officers are also dealing with a number of complaints from the public about signs and images shared on social media that were reportedly displayed at the protest, the Met said. So far, the images and signs are from historic events, 'did not take place in London, or do not constitute a criminal offence', the force added. Activists at the demonstration demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now', with some waving flags and holding banners as they marched towards St James's Park. In a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, the UK's highest court confirmed the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act "refer to a biological woman and biological sex".
Sky News
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Police appeal over 'senseless' damage to seven statues during trans rights rally in London
Police are appealing for information after seven statues - including one of suffragette Millicent Fawcett - were daubed with graffiti during a trans rights rally in London. The Metropolitan Police said the criminal damage took place during the protest in Parliament Square, Westminster, on Saturday. Thousands of people had gathered for an "emergency demonstration" following the Supreme Court ruling earlier this week on the definition of a woman. The words "Trans rights are human rights" were written on a statue of South African statesman Jan Christian Smuts. The Met Police said officers were trawling CCTV footage and no arrests have been made as yet. Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said: "Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting. "While the police support the public's right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible." Mr Bell said there were plans to remove the graffiti "but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly". "We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward," he added. The force has not shared details of which seven statues were defaced. Parliament Square is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi. The Met said it was also dealing with a number of complaints from the public about signs and images shared on social media that were reportedly displayed at the protest. The force said while officers were investigating the displayed signs and images, they had so far proved to be from historic events, did not take place in London, or did not constitute a criminal offence. The protest followed a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, when the UK's highest court ruled the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 "refer to a biological woman and biological sex". 2:10 It essentially means trans women who hold gender recognition certificates are not women in the eyes of the law. This means transgender women with one of the certificates can be excluded from single-sex spaces if "proportionate".
