Backgroound Image

Oxford Against Transphobic State 11/09/2021

Posted on by abingdonqueeraction
A protest with a dense group of people holding up different rainbow and queer flags and signs in the street
A selection of hand made protest signs. One says "hormone blockers are reversible - Puberty is Not! another says "stand with us this pride" and another says "trans rights" but the trans is crossed out and replaced with "human"
Coloured chalk writing on the ground including the numbers 181, the trans anarchy symbol and the slogan "trans rights are human rights"
A selection of protest signs: the first one says "its not too complicated you're too transphobic" the second one says " the first pride was a riot" and the third says "trans love on our streets Nazi scum off our streets"
Coloured chalk on the ground including a trans flag and "trans love is beautiful" and "the gender binary is a colonialist project"
Groups of people holding rainbow flags
2 images - the first image is of a person holding a microphone reading a speech with a rainbow flag above them. the second image is of 2 people with a IWW flag and a rainbow flag
A group of people holding up signs saying " trans lives matter", "protect transpoc", "stop cis washing the rainbow" and "intersex rights now"
a trans anarchist flag being held in front of 2 police officers standing in front of the doors to a police station
A rainbow anti homophobe action flag being flown above a group of protesters marching down a street

Following calls on social media from a group of trans young people, and posters around Oxfordshire, we joined this anti transphobia demonstration. People gathered at Bonn Square from 12:15, a speaker was set up as people began chanting and cheering. “Trans Rights are Human Rights!” Over about 45 minutes, people chanted, sang, and listened to powerful trans stories. About being trans, Black and trans, the legacy of section 28, and more. “Trans Love is Beautiful!” Just after 13:00, the rally claimed the roads and marched down St Aldates to the police station for 13:12. “Oxford is Anti-Fascist!” Whilst there, more words were said, including about the police brutality against trans people, how transphobia is inherently colonialist, and being a trans Muslim. “Trans Men are Men, Trans Women are Women, Enbys are Beautiful!” We also chanted for our trans siblings killed by UK police, Vikki Thompson and Jenny Swift. Aswell as for Sarah Everard, and held a minutes silence to honour their deaths. “Who killed Vikki Thompson? Police killed Vicki Thompson! Who killed Jenny Swift? Police Killed Jenny Swift!” Afterwards, we left the police station, which was now covered in chalk trans rights slogans, and marched back to Bonn Square, where we rallied for a short time, sharing some final words before dispersing. “Black Lives Matter! Black Trans Lives Matter!” When marching and rallying the crowd was energetic, and loud! And we were thankful to have support from the wider community, people cheering from busses, taxis, the side of the road, and posters in pub and shop windows. “When the people we love are under attack, what do we do? FIGHT BACK!” All said it was a good day, and we’re proud to have been a part of the 100 people that came. Including ourselves, Oxford Anti-Fascists, Youth Activists, and of course every individual or group that came to the protest! We were even joined by a few friends from other places supporting us; such as Portsmouth AFN. In the days running up we also recieved messages of support from all over the country.

Originally posted 17/09/2021