Activists in Birmingham trans rights march spat on and pushed

An investigation has been launched after three people were attacked during a trans rights rally in Birmingham.

The man pushed and spat at three attendees during a march in New Street at about 13:00 BST on Saturday, police said.

They added that officers were checking CCTV and were keen to hear from anyone with information about what happened.

Campaigners said the rally – one of two in the city on Saturday – had been organised in response to the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the legal definition of a woman.

Judges ruled earlier this month that when the term “woman” is used in the Equality Act it means a biological woman, and “sex” means biological sex.

The ruling also made it clear that if a space or service is designated as women-only, a person who was born male but identifies as a woman does not have a right to use that space or service.

The rally began as a static protest at 13:00, campaigners said, with speakers and chants in Victoria Square before, attendees took part in a march down New Street.

Video showed a passer-by attacking them, assaulting several individuals and repeatedly spitting on others.

Local security staff pulled him away from the crowd, they added.

Violet Corrigan, one of the organisers of the protest, said they were among those attacked.

“I personally was pushed and nearly fell over but I’ve had a lot worse,” they said.

“It’s not surprising. People get angry when they don’t understand something, people get angry when they don’t agree with something, instead of having a conversation with people.

“Instead of being curious, asking questions, wanting to get involved, wanting to know how they can make a difference; the first line of defence is for them to get angry and attack and that’s what happened.”

A further rally took place at about 18:00 outside the Birmingham HIV and AIDS Memorial in Hurst Street.