Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @_MxMike
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Campus security crumbles when leftist militants block entry to pro-woman movie in UK: 'No safe way we can get into the building'
April 27, 2023
Campus security crumbled in the face of leftist militants who blocked entrances to a building at Edinburgh University in Scotland where a pro-woman documentary was set to be shown Wednesday evening.
In the end, the screening was canceled in the face of the protest, the Guardian reported.
What are the details?
The outlet said this week's screening of "Adult Human Female" was organized with the university’s support after protesters in December confronted audience members and occupied a screening room, forcing a shutdown just minutes before the documentary was set to start.
Critics accuse "Adult Human Female" of transphobia by denying that transgender women have equality with biological women, the Guardian said.
Several hours before the scheduled screening Wednesday at the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, masked protesters blocked the building's doorways, the outlet reported.
\u201cHow do you counter hatred. With a conga to Born This Way of course\u201d— Mx Mike (They/Them) (@Mx Mike (They/Them)) 1682531187
University security staff refused to take action due to risks of physical confrontations with the protesters and decided to cancel the screening, the Guardian said.
STVNews political reporter Laura Alderman posted the university's message to the turned-away documentary attendees:
\u201cA message sent to attendees of the film from the University \u2b07\ufe0f\u201d— Laura Alderman (@Laura Alderman) 1682528434
"Protestors are currently blockading all entrances to the venue," the statement read. "The University Security team have advised that there is no safe way we can get into the building, and the University have therefore advised that the screening cannot go ahead this evening."
The Guardian said there was a minor scuffle outside the theater when security held back two audience members who tried to push through to the entrance:
\u201cOne woman attempting to enter the lecture theatre is blocked by demonstrators. She tells them, "My rights are being denied by you. I want in there."\u201d— Laura Alderman (@Laura Alderman) 1682528434
If you thought the security response was lame...
The Guardian said the university offered a statement, saying it's “fully committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom, and facilitating an environment where students and staff can discuss and debate challenging topics. We are disappointed that again this event has not been able to go ahead. In line with our commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and safe environment for our whole community, we worked with the organizers and put measures in place to mitigate risks associated with the event. However, with protesters restricting access to the venue, safety concerns were raised should the event proceed. It was therefore decided that the screening should not continue.”
More from the outlet:
Directly opposite the theater entrance, around 100 trans-rights activists, academics and students, standing behind a crowd barrier, took part in a sing-along organized by the trans rights group Cabaret Against the Hate Speech.
A Cabaret Against the Hate Speech spokesperson said they did not want the screening cancelled, but were implacably opposed to its positions. “Our goal was always to challenge it and make sure it was never going to be allowed to go unchallenged in society, because hate crime, transphobia and bigotry should never go unchallenged,” they said.
\u201cIt\u2019s big and we\u2019ve only just started. No to hate on campus #TransRightsAreHumanRights\u201d— UCU Edinburgh (@UCU Edinburgh) 1682526558
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Want to leave a tip?
We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?
Sr. Editor, News
Dave Urbanski is a senior editor for Blaze News.
DaveVUrbanski
more stories
Sign up for the Blaze newsletter
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.