JK Rowling has slammed pro-trans protesters for ‘throwing smoke bombs’ and ‘howling abuse at lesbians’ after police arrested two people over clashes at a ‘Let Women Speak’ event.
Kellie-Jay Keen, who founded women’s rights group Standing For Women, was due to give a talk in Brighton today as part of her countrywide speaking tour.
Ms Keen, also known as Posie Parker, has frequently attracted the ire of pro-trans activists over her views on gender rights.
Her talk today was disrupted by protesters from the Reclaim Pride Brighton group, who vowed to ‘bring flags and noisemakers’ while advised to ‘cover their faces’.
It led to a clash between pro-trans and women’s rights supporters, with pictures showing police dragging two people away from the scene.
A line of police officers had to separate the rival groups, with many wearing black masks.
Ms Rowling, who has repeatedly come under fire for her public views on trans issues, today slammed the pro-trans group for the clashes.
She tweeted: ‘I see the Be Kind brigade are once more hiding behind their black masks, throwing smoke bombs, screaming “scum” at women speaking up for their sex-based rights and howling abuse at lesbians for not doing d**k.’
Police made two arrests during the clashes after smoke bombs were let off in the crowds.
One person remains in custody on suspicion of assault and a second on suspicion of obstructing an officer.
A protester wearing sunglasses and covering their face is carried away by two police officers in Brighton today
A second person is dragged away by police officers during the clash between rival groups in Brighton today
Demonstrators wave flags and hold placards during the event in Victoria Gardens earlier today
Kellie-Jay Keen (pictured), who founded women’s rights group Standing For Women, was due to give a talk in the Sussex town today as part of her Let Women Speak tour
A mask-clad demonstrator speaks with a police officer at the rally in Brighton, which resulted in multiple arrests
A protester is taken into a police van amid clashes between women’s rights and pro-trans groups in Brighton today
Ms Rowling, who has repeatedly come under fire for her public views on trans issues, today slammed the pro-trans group for the clashes.
The Harry Potter author, 57, since she mocked an online article in June 2020 which used the words ‘people who menstruate’ instead of ‘women’.
She has been targeted by trolls after making critical comments about the transgender lobby – including protesters standing outsider her home with placards after her address was posted online last year.
Ms Keen, meanwhile, told MailOnline earlier this month that her events had been hit by a number of threats and warnings.
She spoke out after officers from Sussex Constabulary were alerted to a number of menacing messages against her.
They included many branding Ms Keen – who is also known as Posie Parker – a TERF and urging people to ‘Fight her by any means you see fit’.
She told MailOnline: ‘I have been called a Nazi for saying I don’t think women have penises. Once you can portray someone as the most heinous person in society – a Nazi – I guess anything goes.
‘I have had a lot of threats over the years, I have been told about how they hope my children get cancer.
‘Sadly, it’s not unusual for trans activists to issue threats about women wanting to talk about our rights – JK Rowling is a prime example of that.
‘We are subjected to a wide range of menacing messages.
A line of police officers stands between the rival groups during the clashes in Brighton earlier today
A women’s rights protester carried a placard saying ‘this police force acts on behalf of trans lobby groups’
‘I think the whole social media thing depersonalises people as well. We have been dehumanised by the term TERF. There are some quite disturbed people within that group, like others I guess.
‘It’s a very effective campaign that we are supposed to believe that men that want to call themselves women are the most vulnerable group in society.
‘When I was a bit younger I could walk to Tesco with my children and some man would tell me what they thought of my appearance. We as women sadly have become used to these regular infringements. I think the whole identity politics issue is a poison.
‘The event will go ahead. We have sent Sussex Police information on how many people are expected to attend. They have been really good actually.’
But prior to the event today, Reclaim Pride Brighton tweeted a poster encouraging supporters to fight her.
It declared: ‘It is our duty to fight facism when it attempts to enter our communities. Fight Posie Parker by any means you see fit. Love, rage and solidarity.’
A shared call-out urged people to cover their faces and make it clear ‘she is not welcome’.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk