Daily Mail and The Times wrongly accuse Action for Trans Health of condoning violent protests

The Daily Mail and The Times have wrongly accused Action for Trans Health (ATH) of condoning violence against anti-trans activists.

The two outlets misreported that the trans group had called for violence in light of a fight between ATH activists and trans-exclusionary radical feminists in Speakers’ Corner last week.

60-year-old Maria MacLachlan says that she was punched and kicked to the floor as the two groups came head to head at Speakers’ Corner on Wednesday 13, September.

MacLachlan, who subscribes to trans-exclusionary feminist ideas, was at the area with other TERF activists as they waited for a location to be announced for an event about gender.

A video showed the fight that broke out was shared online.

While it’s difficult to determine exactly what happened and police are still investigating, it appeared to show MacLachlan putting a trans activist in a headlock.

It then shows her camera being knocked out of her hand and her being punched.

Following the fight, discussions broke out online about whether violence against transphobia was appropriate.

“Punching people isn’t activism – it’s assault,” wrote one trans writer on Twitter.

Shon Faye, another trans writer, added: “Whether this is true or not – physical violence against women (cis or trans) even by women (cis or trans) is unacceptable.”