Maria MacLachlan being attacked at Speakers’ Corner (Picture: YouTube/Mette Høeg)

A 60-year-old woman was pushed to the floor and punched in the face during a row between feminists and trans activists at Speakers’ Corner.

Police are investigating the incident which saw two groups, the Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) and Trans Activists, fighting in Hyde Park on Wednesday.

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TERFS believe that trans women aren’t real women and should not be given the same rights.

Maria MacLachlan, a ‘gender critical feminist’, was attacked at Speakers’ Corner in London’s Hyde Park at about 7pm on Wednesday.


A video uploaded to YouTube by Mette Høeg has been viewed thousands of times.

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She told the Mail on Sunday: ‘‘These studenty-looking types were turning up and some arguments started to take place but I kept well out of it.’



‘I thought, “I can film this, it will be interesting.” They were getting louder and louder. Then suddenly someone tried to grab my camera. It was scary. Someone kept trying to get my camera. I think it was a girl, but I couldn’t tell because they had a hoodie over their eyes.’

Ms MacLachlan ended up with a bruise on her face, red marks on her neck and grazed knees, her camera also was smashed and memory card stolen.

She added: ‘I didn’t go to hospital but it has really shaken me up.’

Ms MacLachlan later identified a trans-woman as one of her attackers.

She was in Hyde Park with 50 fellow TERFs waiting to find out a secret location for a talk entitled What Is Gender? The Gender Recognition Act And Beyond.

A Youtube video captured the fight at speakers’ corner between the rival group (Credit: YouTube/Mette Høeg)

Several groups threatened online to protest at the event, including LGBTQ+ Society from Goldsmiths University, Sisters Uncut, and Action For Trans Health London.

The secret venue for the speech was the University Women’s Club in Mayfair which also saw tensions run high after protesters located the club.

Feminist Jen Izaakson said: ‘The staff had to form a human chain to let our people in and keep protesters out.’’

Action for Trans Health London said: ‘We condemn violence against women in all forms. We’re proud that many self-organising activists, allies and supporters stood against hatred, misogyny and intimidation.’

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