Honor Oak Pub: Counter protest at children’s drag queen story time event turns violent

A counter protest outside a drag storytelling event in southeast London turned violent after a transgender activist was allegedly beaten up by far right protesters.

The trans activists said they were assaulted outside the Honor Oak pub in Lewisham on Saturday morning.

Scotland Yard said three people had been arrested during the disturbances.

In a statement, the Met Police said three people had been arrested, two for assault, and one for a public order offence.

The trans rights activists claimed they had been attacked while protecting the Magical Storytelling time event at the Honor Oak, with far-Right protesters breaking at least one window at the pub.

A number of trans activists said they were left bloodied and nursing wounds following the alleged attack.

The disorder began after the far-Right activists confronted a gathering of trans rights activists and their supporters outside the pub.

The Trans Safety Network group tweeted: “Fascists attacked trans counter protesters protecting children attending a drag time story event in Honor Oak Pub this morning.

“The fascists grabbed people and began attacking them, breaking the pub window and causing serious injuries.”

Around 50 Right-wing demonstrators, including members of The League of Young British Patriots are believed to have been in attendance on Saturday.

They held banners reading “Protect our Children: There is no such thing as a ‘trans child’” and “Leave Our Children Alone”.

Trans rights activists responded with banners reading “Love is a human right” and “Don’t let the far right divide us: Defend LGBT+ communities”, and cries of “We’re here! We’re queer! We will not live in fear!

The drag storytelling event, hosted by drag artist That Girl, takes place monthly at The Honor Oak and is described as a PG hour “of whimsical story time, where everyone is welcome, and magic is possible”.

But far-right group Turning Point UK claims that the storytelling session is not suitable for children, and call it “grooming”.

Clashes between LGBT+ ally groups and far right protesters have become a monthly occurrence.

In a statement on its website published before Saturday’s incident, the pub said: “It has come to our attention that there may be some misunderstanding about the event, so we wanted to reassure you all that our popular Magical Storytelling event will be age appropriate and it isn’t anything different to what families will see and experience together in a theatre.

“This event is an opportunity for families and friends to come together and listen to a reading of a storybook and have fun. The most important thing for us is that everyone is safe and happy when they are here.”

Turning Point UK said in a statement: “There were no far-Right activists in attendance and instead the radical trans-activists attacked attendees of our demonstration with wooden clubs.”