PRESS RELEASE: STAND UP TO RACISM PROTESTS AGAINST FAR RIGHT ATTACKS ON DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR

By /
For Immediate Release
Thursday 4 August 2022

PRESS RELEASE: STAND UP TO RACISM PROTESTS AGAINST FAR RIGHT ATTACKS ON DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR

Supporters of the Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) campaign group are planning several counter-protests against far right attacks on Drag Queen Story Hour events.

Far right groups have tried to intimidate parents and children who have booked to attend story-telling sessions at local libraries featuring drag queen Aida H Dee. They include the fascist party Patriotic Alternative—led by Mark Collett, the former leader of the Nazi British National Party’s (BNP) youth wing.  An SUTR statement slammed the far rights’ attempts “to foster the pernicious myth that drag is a kind of ‘child grooming’ or in some way sexual, leading to accusations of paedophilia.” 

The anti-racist and anti-fascist group will be helping to build solidarity protests, including in Portsmouth on Thursday, Leeds on Saturday, Cardiff on 12 August, Rochdale on 16 August and Oxford on 23 August.  The counter-protest in Leeds on Saturday, 6 August, is organised by Leeds Stand Up To Racism and Trans Pennine Travelling Sisters.  Counter-protests have already taken place in Brighton and Welling, south east London.  

Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism national co-convenor, said:

“Fascists, the far right and bigots have been targeting Drag Queen Story Time events at libraries across Britain in an attempt to stir up hatred against LGBT+ communities.  “It’s clear that the bigotry expressed in the Tory leadership contest is giving confidence to the far right to go on the attack.  “Stand Up To Racism stands with LGBT+ communities and will be helping to build support events in coming weeks to oppose attempts to intimidate children, parents and LGBT+ people.”  

Notes to editors:

Pictures provided can be used with a credit to ‘Stand Up To Racism via Lee Billingham’

Stand Up To Racism is a national campaign set up to combat the rise of all forms of racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism, the far right and fascism. The group is supported by prominent politicians and trade unions and its president is Labour MP Diane Abbott, a broad based anti racist organisation supported by trade unions, faith and campaign organisations

###ENDS

For more information, interviews and further quotes:
Stand Up To Racism:
info@standuptoracism.org.uk
 



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