Southwark News - March 16th 2023

Page 10

10 NEWS www.southwarknews.co.uk/news

Southwark News, Thursday March 16 2023

Photo by Savills

Rally organised against pub’s non-existent kids’ drag queen event in SE22

Turning Point UK demonstrators

Counter-protestors outnumbered the Turning Point UK rally

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Over 100 counter-protestors opposed Turning Point UK’s rally against a non-existent children’s drag queen event outside an East Dulwich pub.

Approximately sixteen members of the right-wing group were outnumbered by local residents and activists at the Great Exhibition pub on last Friday morning,

March 10. Turning Point UK was protesting against a ‘Drag Queen Storytelling’ event despite the pub’s claims that no event was ever scheduled for Friday. Turning Point UK, which says such drag queen events are inappropriate for children, claims the pub had planned an event but deleted the online post as part of a “cover-up”. A Met Police spokesperson said 150 people attended and did not report any

arrests being made. It was the second such protest in recent weeks. The first was held by Turning Point UK on Saturday, February 25, outside the Honor Oak pub over their ‘Drag Story Hour’, which saw five arrests. Local resident Annette Martin, 75, who attended the most recent protest as a counter-demonstrator, said: “It was very lively. There were. loads of counterprotesters. When I arrived there was a line of police between us and them.” A spokesperson for Turning Point UK said: “We are very pleased with the result of our protests, as inappropriate Drag Queen Story Hour events have been

trending in the media for the past couple of weeks. “Our protests are focused on awareness, not actually physically preventing adult performers from reading to children, as that is for the government to legislate, or for the police to act when necessary.” While there was no drag event on the day, the pub had previously held one in July 2022. The Turning Point UK spokesperson said: “While the session today had been cancelled, we were happy to still protest the venue as they have not committed to age restricting future drag events they plan to host there, with other events still

listed on their website.” In a tweet, the Great Exhibition pub said the pub would open as usual and that it remained “committed to offering events at this pub that are magical fun, inclusive and appropriate”. The Met Police confirmed that officers were deployed to the scene at 10am to respond to any disorder that might have taken place. There was minor traffic disruption in the area and Crystal Palace Road from the junction with Underhill Road was temporarily closed. By 1pm, police said the demonstrators had dispersed with Underhill Road reopened to traffic.


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Articles inside

at the Den

3min
page 31

last dance at The Den

2min
page 30

Gary Rowett explains key reason behind c harlie c resswell’s improved performances

1min
page 30

lions loanee has ‘burning desire to be the best’

1min
page 30

long delighted by lions’ shut-out Goalkeeper praises teammates after facing no shots on target at Reading

4min
page 29

dockers day at the den for Huddersfield clash lions’ legends return to SE16 to celebrate former glory

1min
page 28

millwall deliver one-punch knockout to reading

2min
page 28

h amlet find p ort in storm

6min
pages 27-28

MOTHER’S DAY MESSAGES

20min
pages 20-21, 23-27

guernsey, greenwich, garfunkel’s and ghosts

4min
pages 19-20

what’s on in Southwark director of b erlusconi tells all

1min
page 19

BUNNY HOP EGGSTRAVAGANZA

1min
page 18

Housing repair issues have got so bad, children are now getting involved

2min
page 17

Still no arrests after brutal attack outside Bermondsey school

1min
page 16

broken heating leaves camberwell e state residents shivering as teMPeRatuRes dROP tO -1

1min
page 16

New cancer ward at Guy’s

1min
page 15

From emergency care to fundraising half marathon

3min
page 15

Met Police officer jailed for 16 months for shoving a woman over in Honor Oak

1min
page 13

WHat’s gOing On at 567 Old kent ROad?

1min
page 13

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3min
pages 12-13

four men are charged by murder detectives investigating february shooting of bermondsey man kai number’s up! Bingo club set to close

2min
page 12

Young maestros call checkmate at Southwark’s first-ever inter-school chess tournament

2min
page 11

rally organised against pub’s non-existent kids’ drag queen event in se22

3min
pages 10-11

remembering the towering figure of the lion-hearted youth club ‘miracle man’ John motton

4min
page 9

Will film put Peckham on the map?

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‘mould is making us sick’ schoolgirls demand a stop to insufferable living conditions

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is hospitalised in bike hangar collision that ‘council

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Man wounded after reports of shooting in Nunhead

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‘schoolboy plunged to his death after viewing suicide posts online’

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Disabled Millwall fan visits all 272 tube stops to raise ataxia awareness

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e ast s treet m arket traders protest against above-inflation fee increases

3min
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