Controversial anti-trans activist Kelly-Jay Keen was doused with tomato juice at her Auckland rally on Saturday, forcing her to leave the protest early in the back of a police car and wondering if she would go ahead with her next rally in Wellington.
The self-described transphobic, 48, who caused controversy with a series of rallies in Australia, traveled to New Zealand to continue her ‘Let Women Speak’ tour, which campaigns against allowing transgender women into women-only spaces. .
But more than 2,000 pro-trans counter-protesters saw the British woman leave the stage on Saturday, prompting her to leave her rally before beginning her speech.
As she approached the stage in the city’s Albert Park, a counter-protester ran up to her and spilled a bottle of liquid, which appeared to be ketchup or juice, on her head.
Controversial anti-trans activist Kelly-Jay Keen was doused with tomato juice at her Auckland rally on Saturday, forcing her to leave the protest early in the back of a police car and wonder whether to go ahead with her next rally in Wellington.
As she approached the stage in the city’s Albert Park, a counter-protester ran up to her and spilled a bottle of liquid, which appeared to be ketchup or juice, on her head.
Ms. Keen was unable to speak as over 2,000 LGBTQIA protesters drowned her.
On Twitter after the rally, Ms Keen, who also goes by Posie Parker, said she “feared for her life.”
As she left the scene in the back of a police car, she hinted that she might cancel her Wellington rally, and a statement from Speak Up For Women later confirmed that it will not take place.
Ms. Keen herself has not confirmed whether or not the next demonstration will take place.
In a live YouTube video, she said “maybe it’s time to say ‘we can’t do it’ and asked the cops to take her to the police station because she was ‘scared’ to go back to her hotel.”
Men wearing Nazi paraphernalia also turned out to protest against trans people, although Ms Keen has previously insisted she has no association with that group.
The self-described transphobic, 48, who caused controversy with a series of rallies in Australia, traveled to New Zealand to continue her ‘Let Women Speak’ tour, which campaigns against allowing transgender women into women-only spaces. .
More than 2,000 pro-trans counter-protesters watched the British woman leave the stage on Saturday, prompting her to leave her rally before beginning her speech.
Men wearing Nazi paraphernalia were also in attendance to protest against trans people, though Ms Keen has previously insisted she has no association with that group.
A statement issued by Speak Up For Women this afternoon said a planned speaking event in Wellington had been canceled after being ‘overrun by a violent mob’.
“Speak Up for Women thanks Ms Keen-Minshull for having the courage to come to New Zealand and perform at Albert Park today, despite receiving multiple death threats and threats of violence in the last week,” it reads. in the statement.
“In the coming weeks, Speak Up For Women will be collecting witness statements and filing a formal complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority about the lack of police action to prevent violence in what was clearly an increasingly volatile situation.”
Calling herself a ‘women’s rights activist but not a feminist’, Ms Keen believes it is impossible to change gender and campaigns to exclude trans women from women-only spaces.
She has sparked fury in Australia with critics, and the Nazis turned up at her rally in Melbourne last Saturday.
Calling herself a ‘women’s rights activist but not a feminist’, Ms Keen believes it is impossible to change gender and campaigns to exclude trans women from women-only spaces.
Ms Keen told the Australian at her latest rally in Hobart on Tuesday that she had become “public enemy number one”.
He said it was “crazy” that his speeches had been invaded by pro-LGBTIQA groups, while also stating that he had no association with the Nazis.
Ms Keen has faced harsh criticism from LGBTIQA+ groups, as well as politicians who have raised concerns about her association with far-right groups and likened her anti-trans rhetoric to the homophobia faced by gay people in the 1980s.
Even other ‘gender critical feminist groups’ are cutting ties with the 154cm tall mother of four, with a leading UK group saying the presence of The neo-Nazis at the Melbourne event should be a “wake up call”.
Ms. Keen has been the subject of heavy criticism from many groups in the past, including for allegedly posing with an activist who celebrated the death of Winnie Mandela and called out the anti-apartheid fighter ‘a whore’ and ‘white farmer murdering c***’.
Ms Keen is seen arriving in Hobart on Tuesday with a bodyguard and police.
The 48-year-old, who has been endorsed by JK Rowling, is described by supporters as a “women’s rights activist” but her most recent rally in Melbourne was attended by Nazis.
She has also been criticized by a British MP for saying access to abortion and contraceptives must be reduced for children and adolescents.
Ms Keen raised eyebrows recently after criticizing British MP Jess Phillips for reading the name of a teenage trans murder victim, Brianna Ghey, in the House of Commons during an International Women’s Day speech.
He has also spoken alongside various figures from far-right groups, including Christopher Barcenas, member of the Proud Boys, who was deposed by the United States government due to his presence at the Capitol riot on January 6.
Before his trip to Australia, Stephen Bates, spokesman for the Greens on LGBTIQA+ issues, he wrote to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles asking him to revoke his visa.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins expressed concern over Ms Keen (pictured) entering the country ahead of her arrival.
A group of Nazis held up an offensive banner when they clashed with trans rights activists in Melbourne on Saturday.
Mr Bates argued that Ms Keen had a long history of “promoting or excusing hate and violence towards trans and other marginalized communities”.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins expressed concern over Ms Keen’s entry into the country prior to her arrival.
Speaking at a press event, Mr Hipkins said he “condemns” Ms Keen’s rhetoric.
“Anyone exercising their right to free expression, whatever the circumstances, should keep in mind that we do not want to incite hateful behavior or violence,” he said.
“In fact, it’s illegal to do so, and I think everyone should be aware of that.”
Police officers remove a protester during the transgender rights demonstration as tensions escalated in Melbourne.
He explained that this was in reference to the Nazis attending his rally in Melbourne, where a group of men, dressed in black shirts, saluted the Nazis on the steps of Victorian Parliament and that New Zealand Immigration was reviewing the policy on his entry. .
However, Richard Owen, the general manager of New Zealand Immigration, told TThe New Zealand Herald she can enter New Zealand without a visa in her British passport.
Despite this, you must apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which checks previous convictions or removals from other countries.
“(New Zealand Immigration) is now reviewing whether, in light of the events of the weekend, Ms Keen-Minshull can still travel to New Zealand on the basis of the NZeTA,” it said.
In a video response, Ms Keen told Mr Hipkins: “Revoke my visa at your own risk.”
‘Roll the dice my friend. I don’t think you dare stop me from going to New Zealand, but we’ll see.
