Trans protesters chase Zahawi off campus
Security staff forced to shield Education Secretary after activists disrupted University of Warwick talk
TRANS activists hounded Nadhim Zahawi off a Russell Group university campus accusing him of “inciting hatred” by defining women as “adult human females”.
The Education Secretary was confronted by dozens of student protesters chanting “Zahawi is a transphobe” and “Tory scum” while visiting the University of Warwick on Friday. He had to be ushered away from campus by security guards as he was pursued by activists brandishing trans flags and placards.
It came after trans activists had tried and failed to have his talks to students – arranged by the university’s Conservative Association – cancelled.
Warwick Pride, the student union’s society for “Lesbian, Gay, Bi+, Trans, Undefined and Asexual/aromantic” had issued an open letter condemning the invitation.
It claimed Mr Zahawi “plays a significant role in institutionalised transphobia” and his presence “violates SU by-laws on equality and diversity”.
The letter also described his use of the term “adult human female” to define a woman as “the common transphobic dog whistle”.
Videos obtained by The Daily Telegraph show the Education Secretary being pursued by activists with security staff trying to protect him as he leaves the second talk of his two-hour campus visit – which was open to Conservative Association members only.
“As Zahawi was leaving the second, members-only talk, protesters rushed towards him and one landed a blow on one of our executive members’ heads – our events secretary – although he wasn’t injured,” Tom Garth, 20, the association’s chairman and a politics student, told The Telegraph. “They were positioned outside the lecture hall, banging on the doors and blasting music, too.
“Then when Zahawi was exiting with security they continued and tried to follow him all the way to his car, trying to get as close as possible to him.”
The campus disturbance comes as the Education Secretary is spearheading the Government’s new academic freedom of speech Bill, which will allow universities and students’ unions to be fined or sued for censorship and no-platforming speakers.
He was also a staunch defender of philosophy professor Kathleen Stock when she was targeted by trans activists at Sussex University last year in another major gender row, a stand which was cited by Warwick Pride in their open letter.
The protesters, some of whom were masked, also chanted “LGB with the T”, “no space for transphobes” and “trans rights are human rights”, according to the event hosts. They also reportedly tried to obtain tickets to Mr Zahawi’s campus talk.
The Conservative Association said: “We were thankful to the campus community safety team for the work they did to help us run the event. Without them it would not have been safe to hold the event both for members or the Secretary of State. The anger and hatred aimed at us that evening only scratches the surface when it comes to revealing what protesters actually feel towards those they disagree with.
“There is a general unwillingness to exist alongside those with a difference of opinion on topics that should be open for legitimate discussion. Chants of ‘Tory scum’ were again unsurprising, due to the role models these protesters rely on for their world views.”
A Department for Education source said last night: “This proves the need for the freedom of speech Bill and is more evidence against those who say there is no such thing as a chilling culture on campus.”
Warwick Pride said it did not condone any violent behaviour.