I’m not sure when the definition of  progressive queer activism changed to mean defiling and destroying women’s spaces, but unsurprisingly, the violent men of Queer activism (terrorism) are at it again.   And quite honestly, they (GAG) can fuck the hell right off – violent patriarchal repression of women with a shiny coat of queer paint is still male violence and misogyny – and has no place in a society that claims to value women and stand for ‘equality’.

This violent shit doesn’t raise eyebrows or cause a stir in the media because the targets are only women after all.  Meghan Murphy and the Guerrilla Feminist Collective are on the case though.    Thank heavens.

meghanm1

 

 

“GAG / Gays Against Gentrification have vandalized the building housing the Vancouver Women’s Library. This latest action is prompting the following comparison of this new alt-white group’s activism.

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Protest methods against for-profit business in Chinatown:

* Stand across the street, 1/2 a block away, sing a nice christmas song with the lyrics changed protesting gentrification & racism (as an all white group)

* Inch closer, but remain outside the business, on the far side of the sidewalk so as not to disrupt customers and business operations

* Smile, sing, display signs neatly and respectfully, either laid on the sidewalk or in their hands

* Abide by all common-sense understandings of legal protest on/near private property

* Take responsibility for and pride in their action

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Protest methods against volunteer-run, no-profit, free & inclusive women’s library on the night of their launch:

* Shout and scream slurs at library visitors outside

* Enter and take over the space with outraged entitlement

* Jason, a white male, continually asks which women inside are sex workers, and shouts “we don’t want you in our fucking spaces”, referencing the fact that he outed himself as a “trans person involved in sex work” thereby staking a claim to the area (?) which is a well known hunting ground for Johns seeking children and indigenous women specifically. Jason, are you a John? Can you clarify what you meant by “involved in sex work”? This can have so many meanings. TIA

* Destroy and steal library property: ripping artwork, destroying books, stealing wine, pulling the fire alarm

* Physically intimidate and assault library visitors outside

* Scream sexist slurs at women library visitors outside

* Bar library visitors from entering the space, actually turning people away who travelled in the heavy snow to reach the library

* Steal hand-painted sandwich board outside the library

* Vandalize the building that houses the library. A space shared by a diverse group of artists and artisans, jeopardizing the safety, livelihood, and work of many, not just that of the library.

* Discard all common-sense understandings of legal protest inside or on private property

* Deny any responsibility for their actions although almost every member of GAG was present and engaged

* Repeatedly claim to be committed to engaging in learning and discourse, yet reject, shut down, delete any and all criticisms, coming from a wide range of people and groups.”

So, GAG understands what peaceable protest looks like, but they chose not to when it comes to a library for women.  This is what happens when women challenge the dominant male narrative in society, and this is why we need a feminist movement that is dedicated to fighting for female emancipation from patriarchy.

 

Donate to the Vancouver Women’s Library at this link.