A demonstration organised by the campaign group Let Women Speak (LWS) took place today at Bonn Square. Around 100 counterprotestors also assembled, including members from the Oxford Green Party, Stand Up to Racism, and Oxford for Trans Rights (O4TR).
Although largely peaceful, two arrests were made under suspicion of a Section 5 Public Order offence – which concerns the use of threatening, abusive, or disorderly words or behavior, or the display of threatening or abusive writing. One of these individuals was later de-arrested.
Chief Inspector Jade Hewitt said: “I am pleased to say that the protests were peaceful and we worked with the organisers and partners to allow lawful protest to take place.”
Thames Valley Police enacted a Section 34 dispersal notice in Oxford’s city centre following the protest. Chief Inspector Hewitt said that “the purpose of this is in order to reduce the possibility of public harassment, alarm or distress and to prevent the risk of crime and disorder in the area”. She added that “we do not take these decisions lightly, but believe that in enacting this notice, it will help to reassure the local community that we do not tolerate antisocial behaviour.”
During the event and the counterprotest, police officers separated the groups on either side of Queen Street, with some disruption to traffic. Members of the Oxfordshire Patriots, a local right-wing activist group, were also seen in the area.
The original event was advertised by LWS as a “free speech event” and was anticipated to feature speeches critical of transgender rights. The event attracted a crowd of around 40 supporters who were holding Union Jack flags and banners which read “human female”.
Counterprotestors handed out flyers to members of the public, chanting “we don’t want your culture war”. Speakers from LWS responded, saying “no woman has a penis, no man has a vagina”. As well as transgender rights, the groups also clashed on issues including national borders and fascism.
The counterprotest was partly organised by O4TR. In an Instagram post ahead of the protest, O4TR called for its members to “rally in number to show that we will not tolerate transphobes and racists on our streets”.
Councillor Max Morris, Green Party member of Oxford City Council, told Cherwell: “I was at today’s counter-protest to resist the far right and Posie Parker’s hateful rhetoric, both in a personal capacity as a non-binary person and as a local councillor.
“Oxford City Green Party councillors, candidates, and supporters have been showing up routinely to stand in solidarity with our diverse communities. At the last council meeting, we successfully called on Oxford City Council to stand with minority groups in our city and oppose the division stoked by the far right.”
LWS is an international movement founded by Kellie-Jay Keen, an anti-transgender activist also known as Possie Parker. The organisation seeks to defend “the rights of women” which it defines as “adult human females”.
Ahead of the demonstration, a spokesperson from LWS told Cherwell: “We’re coming to Oxford at the request of local women, who also assist with organising the event. Our events are free speech and open mic, this means any woman can come and speak.”
The spokesperson added that LWS “gives voice to mothers, midwives, survivors, students, teachers, and countless others who know firsthand the importance of clarity in language, law, and single-sex protections”.
A plant and poster sale was also taking place at Bonn Square during the protest, with large crowds making their way through the Queen Street and Bonn Square area, including students in sub fusc who had recently matriculated.
Live reporting by Willow Lock, Conor Walsh, and Arina Makarina.
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