Trans activists attacked following Birmingham protest

Content Warning: This article includes details of transphobic violence

On Saturday 26th April 2025, protests were held in Birmingham (and across the UK) in support of the trans community following the Supreme Court Ruling defining a ‘woman’. After an afternoon peaceful protest, organised by Not Your Scapegoat and held outside the Council House in Victoria Square from 1pm, trans activists making their way down New Street were attacked.

The activist and their allies chose to take a brief march down New Street together when the protest concluded in response to the far-right group National Rebirth Party and their leader Alek Yerbury setting up a stall nearby, in hope that the strength in numbers and peaceful chanting might dispere the small group.

Captured on video by Adam Yousef, as the group marched down the busy, shop-flanked street, a passer-by began attacking them, assaulting several individuals and repeatedly spitting on others. The antagonist continued to shout and assault protesters until local security staff pulled him away from the crowd. According to a press release from Brum Against Hate, police officers stationed a few metres away (outside Tesco Birmingham New Street store) reportedly did not respond to the altercation.

Violet Corrigan, co-founder of 'Not Your Scapegoat' and one of the organisers of the protest, was attacked during the trans liberation action. "I wasn't surprised by a member of the public attacking us. I personally was pushed and nearly fell over but I've had a lot worse.

"It's not surprising. People get angry when they don't understand something, people get angry when they don't agree with something, instead of having a conversation with people.

"Instead of being curious, asking questions, wanting to get involved, wanting to know how they can make a difference; the first line of defence is for them to get angry and attack and that's what happened.

"He was drunk, he was angry and he took it out on us, and it was misdirected anger."

Those who had turned out in support of trans rights, however, were not discouraged, and many also joined the later protest in Birmingham’s city centre, held at 6pm in front of the HIV and AIDS memorial ribbons in the Southside District, home to the city’s Gay Village.