25-04-2025
Topless trans protesters claim climate change hits them hardest
Suffolk Police said that three women were arrested on suspicion of exposure and going equipped.
The force added that all three were taken to Bury St Edmunds police investigation centre to be questioned.
The demonstration, organised by Extinction Rebellion, was held on the penultimate day of a two-week 'peace camp' at Lakenheath to protest against the potential return of nuclear weapons to the military base.
About 60 groups from across Britain have taken part in the camp and there are plans for a 'mass blockade' on Saturday.
Although RAF Lakenheath is a British military base, it is used solely by US troops.
Chrissy Jenkins, a carer from Cwmbran, said she took part in Friday's protest – which was entitled 'Can't Bare the Harm' by organisers – because she could not 'stand by and watch the military and fossil fuel industrial complex put profits over people'.
Tez Burns, a protester from Swansea, said she joined the demonstration because the manufacture of weapons led to increased carbon emissions.
'People are defenceless'
'I'm topless because I want to show how vulnerable I – a non-binary assigned female at birth person – am right now in this present moment,' she said. 'I'm topless so you can witness my vulnerability and relate.
'How would you feel? People are defenceless right now, because we insist on business as usual, when we need to 'break the chain'.'
Trans activists are still coming to terms with last week's Supreme Court judgment which ruled that transgender women are not legally women.
The court decision, which reaffirmed that there are only two sexes, male or female, has blindsided activists who have fought for years for access to female lavatories, changing rooms and spaces.
Gender-critical activists such as JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, welcomed the ruling, which followed a years-long legal battle between campaign group For Women Scotland and the Scottish Government over the definition of a woman.
