Latest news straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Trouble erupted at the gates of Anderton Park Primary last night when a group of mostly female LGBT activists putting up messages and banners in support of under-fire staff were confronted and some were allegedly egged.

The group of around 12 women and one man, all from the LGBT community, say they came under attack while quietly putting up banners, pom poms and heart shaped messages, including rainbow flags, on the school fence. Some were in tears after the incident.

Tracy, 49, said she felt 'scared and intimidated' after a group of men gathered in the street, several arriving in cars, told them to get out of their community and chanted slogans.

"It was awful. I was shaking. We had no intention of disturbing anyone - we were putting up the banners and messages we had made to show solidarity with staff. We wanted them to see something positive when they turned up for work, and to see they had our backing," said Tracy.

(Image: Tracy A)

Police arrived after the women and nearby residents made 999 calls. The group said they feared for their safety.

Most of the artwork has since been ripped down.

Officers took statements from those still present when they arrived and told the group they will view videos and CCTV to try to identify any culprits responsible for the assaults.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

It happened amid a daily campaign opposing the school's teaching of messages of LGBT equality to its mainly Muslim pupils.

And it came on the eve of a threatened mass withdrawal of pupils at the school in the increasingly bitter dispute. That walkout is due to take place today, Monday May 20.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Protest co-ordinator Shakeel Afsar, who says he's been elected as parents' spokesman but does not have children at the school, laid the blame for the incident with the LGBT group.

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

He said their actions were provocative, turning up as night fell, disturbing residents and causing intimidation by putting up rainbow flags and inflammatory messages.

In a series of tweets he accused the group of being 'vandalisers' who had provoked residents by arriving during Ramadan as most residents were about to mark iftar, the breaking of the fast.

In videos posted on social media from the scene, a man can be heard leading loud chants of "We will not back down" in the street while the activists stand by the school fence.

(Image: Tracy A)

Honor Bridgman, one of the protest organisers, said the group's intention was to drape banners and messages on the school gates so staff at the school would know they had the backing of people in the city who supported their equality stance.

"We turned up when we did in the hope they would still be there in the morning," she said.

"We have stood by and observed these protests for weeks. We felt we wanted to do something, in a loving way. We have consciously not organised counter-protests as we feel that would make matters worse."

(Image: Tracy A)

She said she had previously turned up at the protests with cupcakes to hand out to protestors.

"We did not want a confrontation. We wanted to quietly do what we were doing, and leave."

Honor tweeted on Sunday night that her group called the police after eggs were allegedly thrown.

Honor and Tracy were from the Birmingham group SEEDS (Supporting Education of Equality and Diversity in Schools), a voluntary group that seeks to build bridges between schools and the parents who oppose equality teaching.

They created the banners, pom poms and foam love hearts adorned with messages. Some wrote heartfelt messages.

They say they sought - and were given - prior permssion from the school to put up their artwork.

One resident of Dennis Road contacted BirminghamLive to say the night's events had left him shaken.

He said: "It looked incredibly intimidating. At one point the group putting up messages were trying to leave the street but were blocked in by the large group of men."

The resident said four houses in the street had rainbow flags in windows as a silent support for the school in the wake of the ongoing protests.

He said some were taken down last night in case of further trouble.

"The LGBT group were incredibly intimidated at one point and were trying to leave the street but were blocked in by the large group of men. Eventually they managed to get out as a group but a couple of them were trapped as they were parked near to where the men were congregating. Around this point some of the posters and artwork were torn down."

He said Mr Afsar also started up chants. "The police did eventually come but most of the commotion had died down by that time. Fortunately they have been keeping a presence on the street all night despite being stretched thin on resources, which is much appreciated."

Other community activists took to social media to show their support for the Muslim residents affected.

Javed Aqbal, a community and charity worker, posted on Twitter: "Why come out at night time to a venue where the community tensions are at a boiling point already. Far right attacks on high alert...especially in Ramadan we are told to be vigilant. Why do such an act. Its puzzling. #provocative"

The situation at the school has been simmering for six weeks, with almost daily protests at the gates at hometime, led by Shakeel Afsar.

Mr Afsar says he is backed by nearly 300 of the school's parents who, like him, want the school to suspend LGBT books and discussions, which he says offend most of the school's mainly Muslim parents.

The protests have brought the school into the national spotlight, including debate on Question Time, slots on Newsnight and regular analysis by national broadcasters and news sites.

Protestors claim they are not homophobic or against LGBT rights - but do not want their children to be told it is OK to be gay, or learn that some families have two mums or two dads.

Speaking previously to BirminghamLive, protester Atia Khan said parents felt children were getting more information at school than at home, and because parents did not know what was being said they were unprepared to answer their children's questions.

She said: "They are talking to them about gay and lesbian, it puts ideas into their heads when they should just be thinking like children."

One man, who said he lived locally but did not have children at the school, said: "Our children go to school to learn maths and science, not learn this rubbish. They will have no future if they don't learn the right things."

He added: "They should be left to be kids."

Another protester at an earlier protest was Abdul Ghaffar. He said his children went to other local schools but he lived locally and owned a bed shop nearby.

He told me: "My six-year-old son came home from school and said to me: 'Could I be gay?' I was shocked. It's not right."

I asked him how he had responded to his son: "I told him if that was the case he need not come back home. He's not having my title. I told him if I had been gay he would not be here."

(Image: Darren Quinton/Birmingham Live)

Last week one protestor, interviewed on Sky News, explained that being LGBT was "not acceptable in Islam".

"God created man, then he created women for man's pleasure and companionship - not another man," he said.

That comment sparked a huge reaction. School head teacher Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson responded on Twitter: "Not this woman, or any of the women in my school, or any of the girls. This is why we have laws on equality. What shameful words and behaviour that have been invited onto the pavements of my lovely school."

Birmingham City Council has stood with the school through the protests.

Coun John Cotton, cabinet member for communities, said: "These views are despicable, discriminatory and sexist. The people voicing them so noisily do not speak for Birmingham or any of its communities. We reject their prejudice and intolerance. I will leave no stone unturned in this fight and together we must stop this."

Yardley MP Jess Phillips also added: "This school is minutes from my home and these people are miles away from representing the people where I live. Love and tolerance will out but only if we stand against hate."

Moseley Labour councillor Kerry Jenkins said the head teacher had the full support of the city council, and the school was merely fulfilling its legal duties under the Equalities Act.

We have asked West Midlands Police and the school to comment on last night's events.