https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10654579/Trans-rights-protestors-besiege-feminist-campaigners-meeting.html'Some Women Have Penises': Placard-wielding trans rights protestors besiege feminist campaigners' meeting held to discuss women-only spaces
Women's Place UK were holding meeting to discuss single-sex spaces
Event in Manchester was protested by around 200 trans-rights demonstrators
They claim the women's rights group is 'transphobic' and 'exclusionary'
Police officers were called to the event as a 'precaution', but no arrests made
By William Cole For Mailonline
Published: 10:42, 26 March 2022 | Updated: 15:11, 26 March 2022
A women's rights group meeting to discuss single-sex spaces was protested by trans activists leading to police being called. Around 200 protestors holding up placards that read 'Some women have penises' and 'If you are transphobic do one' gathered outside a venue in Manchester where Women's Place UK were holding their discussion. The group was hosting its annual conference to consider 'the importance and future of single-sex provision in policy and law'.
The protest was organised by the Manchester Trans Rise Up group, which described Women's Place as a 'transphobic hate group'. Later, Greater Manchester Police said that officers attended as a 'precaution', but no arrests were made. Police did help move the crowd apart so the Women's Place attendees could leave the building safely. Activists at the protest said some group were trying 'to push a narrative that trans women are predators' adding that they saw Women's Place's stance on single-sex spaces as 'b*******'. 'We believe Woman's Place UK is trying to make women-only spaces that exclude the existence of trans women,' two attendees told the Manchester Evening News. 'We feel that it’s important to stand up against that.'
In a statement, Woman’s Place UK denied they were 'transphobic'. They also said they welcomed those with opposing views to attend their events and 'debate with us directly'.
A Woman’s Place UK spokesperson said: "We are a grassroots women's campaign. Accusations of transphobia are entirely unjustified and are often used as a tactic to shut down discussion which many women have valid concerns about the retention of our right under the Equality Act 2010 to single sex spaces, services and sports. Our last meeting in Manchester was held in 2018, where Kristina Harrison, who is trans, spoke from the platform alongside Ruth Serwotka and Bea Campbell. Our events are public and we welcome people with opposing views to attend, listen to our concerns and debate with us directly.'
The feminist group thanked Greater Manchester Police for what it said was a 'very supportive police presence'. Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP, said: 'The women holding this meeting have a right equal to those of the protesters to freedom of speech and freedom of expression. 'We support the right to protest. But the right to harass, intimidate, abuse or silence? No.'
