Five people have been arrested after a dramatic protest and counter-protest over a drag queen story-telling event at the Honor Oak pub.
Right-wing group Turning Point gathered outside the pub in Forest Hill to oppose ‘Drag Story Hour’, on Saturday, February 25, where drag act That Girl reads books to children aged zero to ten.
The group, who said the event was a “massive safeguarding issue”, were met with hundreds of counter-protestors who supported ‘Drag Story Hour’.
Turning Point UK protesting drag storytime at the Honor Oak vs. the counter-protesters. Poor showing for the far right, there’s maybe 30 of them at most pic.twitter.com/C9bm7K7nV0
— desmostylian (@Desmostylian) February 25, 2023
Although police said the protests were “largely peaceful”, five people were arrested – three for affray, one for a public order offence and one for assault on an emergency worker and possession of an offensive weapon.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show a small group of Turning Point protestors facing off against a far larger crowd who arrived brandishing placards.
Some of the banners read ‘no fascism in my backyard’ and ‘don’t let the far right divide us’ and people chanted ‘fascist scum off our streets’.
http://southwarknews.co.uk/news/crime/middle-aged-man-stabbed-in-elephant-and-castle/
Members of Lewisham’s National Education Union (NEU), which represents school teachers, attended and the group later tweeted: “We will not let transphobic bigots come to our community unchallenged and won’t let far-right organisations sow division. The community responded emphatically.”
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But well-known conservative political commentator Calvin Robinson was filmed with a Turning Point UK banner saying: “Thank you for everyone on this side who on this side who has come and been brave fighting against the woke mob.”
“They’ll call us fascists but they don’t want to hear us speak… the irony of that,” he said.
"We are here to fight against the woke mob. And it is a mob over there. They call us fascists – but they don't want to hear us speak. The irony of that" says @calvinrobinson as counter-protests drown out his speech with a siren at the Honor Oak pub SE23 @TPointUK pic.twitter.com/iCU3Nt5mYg
— Martin Daubney ?? (@MartinDaubney) February 25, 2023
The Honor Oak pub released a statement before the event that said: “We have been made aware of plans to protest our event and are grateful to those who have offered to attend in solidarity with us.
“If you feel safe and able to join us, please come along, noting that our event will be a display of queer joy and solidarity. We ask you do not engage with any protesters – they are not looking for a conversation and we will not dignify their bigotry with a response.”
http://southwarknews.co.uk/featured/southwark-blue-plaque-nominees-borough-chapel-one-of-the-oldest-welsh-chapels-in-london/
Makes me sick that anyone who dares to have concerns about their children being brain washed by the Trans movement is classed as ‘far right’. Sickening biased twisted reporting by Herbie Russell and the Southwark News. I remember when this paper employed proper journalist’s and cared for the people of Southwark. Its now just a mouthpiece for the intolerant perverted far left