Source: Women are Human
AU — Melbourne. On March 31, 2021, a group of trans activists at the University of Melbourne held a rally to “stop promoting transphobic content” and more specifically to “condem (sic) the transphobic website ‘NoConflictTheySaid’”. Some women who went to observe were threatened, intimidated and assaulted.
Trans-rights activists held a protest yesterday on campus to denounce HLS and the website. A small, determined group of supporters wearing t-shirts in support of Holly went along – they stood silently as they were surrounded and verbally abused by enraged students pic.twitter.com/Swaw57TVH9
— Katherine Deves (@katherine_deves) April 2, 2021
Trans activists are angry that Dr Holly Lawford-Smith, a professor at the university, has launched a website encouraging women to tell their stories of how their use of women-only spaces (“including but not limited to: changing rooms, fitting rooms, bathrooms, shelters, rape and domestic violence refuges, gyms, spas, sports, schools, accommodations, hospital wards, shortlists, prizes, quotas, political groups, prisons, clubs, events, festivals, dating apps, and language”) has been impacted by legislation that replaces sex with gender identity.
Solidarity with @unimelb philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith, facing totally unacceptable harassment in her workplace for her philosophical beliefs and work on behalf of women; and to her brave supporters, attacked by trans activists in these videos. Please read and watch https://t.co/hTl49f5KLU
— Kathleen Stock (@Docstockk) April 2, 2021
Previously, in an open letter to the Vice Chancellor and Dean of Arts, activists claimed Dr Lawford-Smith was “promoting misinformation about trans people”. The signatories (which include many university professors) also appear to be upset that the political philosophy professor teaches a philosophy course on feminism.
At the rally, some activists yelled at women wearing t-shirts in support of Lawford-Smith, calling them c*nts, and shouting “f**k off terfs”. One particularly aggressive individual screamed at a woman through a loudspeaker, with the crowd then repeatedly chanting “terfs off campus”.
At one point, another activist threw water all over a woman.
