The attacks spoiled what had been a ‘joyous’ Trans Picnic in the Park event in Platt Fields Park
A picnic for transgender people came under attack by groups of young men who made threats and tore down ‘pride’ flags, according to organisers.
The attacks spoiled what had been a ‘joyous’ Trans Picnic in the Park event in Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield, south Manchester, on Thursday afternoon. Organisers described the incidents as a ‘disgusting display of the impunity and hatred’.
In a post on their Instagram page, organisers Trans Mutual Aid Manchester said today: “We had hoped today to be sharing news of a joyous day spent at our Trans Picnic in the Park community event, and whilst we were exceptionally glad to see everyone join us in sharing the sunshine and lovely food, we cannot ignore what also occurred yesterday.
“Two separate times during our picnic, sat peacefully in Platt Fields Park, we were approached by groups of young men, intent on harassing, intimidating, and threatening our friends and picnic-goers. The first pair tore down a Progress Pride flag we had raised to show where we were to people coming to the event, and after threatening to violently assault one of our members with a knife, had his partner burn the flag in front of our group, before leaving.
“In the second incident another group of three men approached our picnic area, shouting abuse, and tore down the remaining trans and non-binary pride flags that we had next to us, and ran off with them out of the park. Both of these incidents were reported immediately to the police, but we do not expect any positive outcome from this.
“Whilst thankfully no one in our community was physically harmed, thanks in part to the intervention of several of our members, this blatant attack on our right to feel safe as a community is a disgusting display of the impunity and hatred with which parts of our society treat their trans siblings.
“This was an obvious attack on our community, perpetrated by those who know they will face no repercussions for their attack, and Trans Mutual Aid Manchester cannot strongly enough condemn this sort of violent intimidation.
“To those outside the trans community, we hope this can be something of a wake-up call to know the kind of rampant abuse we face by those who know they can attack us freely.
“Trans Mutual Aid Manchester will not stand for this, and we call on those outside our community to take steps to defend us, and to those within our community we promise that we will be taking increasing steps to ensure the safety and security of our events and our community. We do not tolerate intolerance.”