‘Radical feminist’ program in Seattle draws protests, attempted disruptions

On Feb. 1, 2020, the central branch of the Seattle Public Library hosted an event on feminist thought. The discussion panel included a slate of controversial feminist activists, many of whom have been labeled as opponents of transgender rights. Demonstrators gathered outside the library to protest the event, and police arrested two disruptors in the meeting space. 

Key Players

The event, titled “Fighting the New Misogyny,” was organized by the Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF), a self-proclaimed “radical feminist organization” that advocates for the abolition of prostitution, reproductive rights, and the dismantling of gender structures. Other activists have criticized the group for its decidedly “anti-trans” positions. 

Meghan Murphy, a feminist activist, sat on the panel. Murphy has been criticized for her denunciations and dismissals of transgender identity. She was banned from Twitter for repeatedly misgendering transgender people; her initial attempt to sue was dismissed. 

Further Details

Several protesters seated in the audience disrupted the event once opening remarks began. Disruptions continued during the opening minutes of the program, until library staff and police intervened, according to an account in The Stranger, a Seattle alternative newspaper. Demonstrators reportedly chanted, “Trans rights are human rights,” as other audience members jeered and goaded them. Demonstrations continued outside the venue throughout the duration of the event. 

The Seattle Public Library allowed the discussion to proceed, despite facing intense pressure from transgender activists to cancel. The New York Public Library canceled a similar event in January 2020 after succumbing to pressure from activists. In October 2019, demonstrators gathered outside the Toronto Public Library to protest another talk by Murphy. 

Panelists challenged the ideas and principles of transgender identity. Issues of transgender rights have become a focal point of modern feminist discourse. Some feminist groups have greeted transgender topics with hostility, while others, like the National Organization for Women, have integrated transgender issues into broader feminist platforms. 

Outcome

Some protesters arrested; event largely uninterrupted

Seattle police arrested two protesters after they refused to leave the premises, according to The Seattle Times. The event then proceeded without interruption.