{"id":1111177,"date":"2023-06-29T13:45:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T13:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1666222"},"modified":"2023-06-29T13:45:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T13:45:41","slug":"south-london-community-faces-vicious-far-right-attack-on-drag-queen-story-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2023\/06\/29\/south-london-community-faces-vicious-far-right-attack-on-drag-queen-story-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"South London community faces vicious far-right attack on Drag Queen Story Hour"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
Fascists attacked<\/a> a Drag Queen Story Hour event in Honor Oak, South London. The far-right<\/a> protesters damaged property and injured counter-protesters and a reporter on Saturday 24 June. This is just the latest attack on drag events.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Counter-protestors from the local community faced off with the bigots. Reports suggested far-right Turning Point UK was present, as well as individuals linked to defunct Neo-Nazi groups like Combat 18. A local church was also attacked, while police reportedly allowed space for the violence to continue.<\/div>\n

Far-right assault<\/h2>\n

Drag Queen Story Hour<\/a> is a popular educational event featured with the likes of the NHS and Greenpeace. Organisers say<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Drag Queen Story Hour UK wants to show the world that being different is not a bad thing, and\u00a0by providing imaginative role models for children to look up to, we can change the world book by book!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Needless to say, this is an affront to knuckleheaded fascist and far-right orthodoxies. Trans Safety Network reported on the kind of people who protest against these events:<\/p>\n

The protests against Drag Queen Story Hour at Honor Oak Pub have been primarily led by Turning Point UK. Turning Point UK are the\u00a0UK branch<\/a>\u00a0of far right organisation Turning Point USA. Turning Point UK\u2019s previous claims to fame include speakers at their conference\u00a0openly defending Hitler<\/a>. The group has\u00a0links to the Conservative Party<\/a>, whose MPs have praised its work.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Openly fascist<\/h2>\n

And that’s not all. The event also pulled in former members of some of the most violent Neo-Nazi<\/a> groups of the 80s and 90s:<\/p>\n

Also present were those with previous involvement in neo-Nazi organisations. For example, Lance Wright was present, who was previously a member of the groups Blood & Honour and Combat 18.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Meanwhile, the counter-protesters were largely local people who didn’t want boot-boys and thugs wrecking their local area. Trans Safety Network reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n

The counter-protesters, on the other hand, were led by members of the local community. A group called South East London Love has formed in reaction to the far right\u2019s presence, in order to protect and care for the local queer community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Injuries and damage<\/h2>\n

The far-right attacked the counter-protestors who tried to stop them getting to the event. Amid violence and threats one counter-protestor, Ada Cable, was reportedly<\/a> beaten:<\/p>\n

One anti-drag protester repeatedly punched trans counter-protester Ada Cable in the face, leading to the injuries seen in our Twitter thread. Ada backed away and received first aid from another counter-protester. Ada was visibly injured to her head, which was bleeding, and also appeared to have a broken nose.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Initially only one police officer<\/a> was on the scene. When other cops arrived they arrested a counter-protestor and then, according to reports, struck the already injured Ada Cable while she gave first aid to someone else:<\/p>\n

I was still crouched on the floor, but one of them punched me in the face. I can tell the difference between a shove and a punch.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Brighton anti-fascists<\/h2>\n

Brighton anti-fascists were in attendance at the counter-protest. They tweeted a thread on the confrontation which made some important points:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

On Saturday antifascists took a stand against far-right attempts to shut down a Drag storytelling event for kids in the Honor Oak pub in South London<\/p>\n

You may have seen photos online of bloodied faces and fighting in the street<\/p>\n

Some important points mostly not mentioned…<\/p>\n

\"\ud83e\uddf5\" pic.twitter.com\/pSc6mFPCnJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— BrightonAntifascists (@brightonanti) June 26, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n