News / protest
Kellie-Jay Keen rally protested by trans rights activists
There was a heavy police presence on College Green on Sunday as Bristol was visited by Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker.
Keen is the founder of Let Women Speak, a group which describes themselves as a ‘global movement that creates space for women to centre women’, although they are often criticised for promoting transphobic views.
Let Women Speak regularly organise rallies in public spaces across the country.
is needed now More than ever
Around 200 pro-trans activists attended from midday at College Green, ahead of Keen’s rally which was scheduled for 1 to 3pm. Around 60 people attended Keen’s Let Women Speak event.
Kellie-Jay Keen is the founder of Let Women Speak, a group which describes themselves as a ‘global movement that creates space for women to centre women’
Protesters used speakers, instruments and chants to disrupt speeches that formed part of the Let Women Speak event.
Keen’s opening remarks recalled how she used to live in Cotham and she expressed sadness over how the city has changed since she lived here.
Her speech then aimed criticisms at Carla Denyer, the Green MP for Bristol Central, and her advocacy for transgender rights, LGBTQ+ education in Bristol schools and gender neutral toilets.
Antifa were among the counter-protesters on Sunday
While she spoke, counter-protesters chanted “Posie Parker is a fascist” and pointed out that a 2023 Let Women Speak event had been attended by Neo-Nazis.
When questioned about that event at the time, Keen told the New Zealand Herald: “They’re absolutely not associated with me whatsoever.
“I absolutely abhor anything to do with Nazis. It’s preposterous they even exist in 2023.”
Counter-protesters far outnumbered attendees at the Let Women Speak rally
At one point, during her speech on Sunday, Keen asked attendees to turn around and wave at the counter-protesters.
She thanked the protesters, saying their noise showed that they were “so kind”.
Keen also criticised the Gender Recognition Act and argued trans minors were “attention-seeking” children who were being harmed by state schools and by their parents.
Some protesters labelled Keen a “fascist”
Keen’s speech also referenced the heavy police presence at the event and criticised protesters for arguing against a “crowd of mostly middle-aged women speaking about why they don’t want men in their spaces”
Protests continued throughout Keen’s speech, with protesters holding banners advocating for trans liberation and shouting chants which included, “Say it loud, say it clear, transphobes are not welcome here”.
All photos: Rob Browne
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
