A number of trans activists were seen holding violent and threatening signs at yesterday’s protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman, as demonstrators defaced seven statues in Parliament Square.
The landmark hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are no longer considered women in the eyes of the law.
This week’s ruling means trans women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) could potentially be excluded from single-sex spaces if ‘proportionate’.
While most held up signs fighting for trans rights, some activists were seen threatening violence with disturbing images of stabbed and hanged TERFs.
One sign at the protest in London‘s Parliament Square showed an illustration of hangman alongside the slogan ‘The only good TERF is a [hanged] TERF.’
Meanwhile, another sign showed an image of a man with a bloodied knife stuck in his eye, alongside the caption: ‘Are you a… transphobe? Why not try a… D.I.Y. LOBOTOMY.’
A third graphic sign read: ‘Trans women are women. Trans men are men. If you don’t like that, go s*** somewhere else.’ Examples on the sign of where to do that included ‘on a pile of Harry Potter books’ or ‘on the head of another TERF’.
![One sign at the protest in London's Parliament Square showed an illustration of hangman alongside the slogan 'The only good TERF is a [hanged] TERF'](https://www.americanpolibeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-attacks-that-shame-the-trans-movement-Placards-at-London.jpg)
One sign at the protest in London’s Parliament Square showed an illustration of hangman alongside the slogan ‘The only good TERF is a [hanged] TERF’
Another sign showed an image of a man with a bloodied knife stuck in his eye, alongside the caption: ‘Are you a… transphobe? Why not try a… D.I.Y. LOBOTOMY’
A third graphic sign read: ‘Trans women are women. Trans men are men. If you don’t like that, go s*** somewhere else.’ Examples of where to do that on the sign included ‘on a pile of Harry Potter books’ or ‘on the head of another TERF’
Another sign at yesterday’s protest read: ‘I will make you listen’
The ruling has caused much controversy among various groups, with transgender activists left furious.
Thousands of outraged campaigners took to the streets of London yesterday to protest – waving flags and chanting throughout the afternoon.
Protestors targeted a number of statues in the capital. Notably, a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett was defaced with a banner reading ‘F** rights’.
The Metropolitan Police said they were investigating the incidents as criminal damage after the statues were daubed with graffiti. MailOnline has contacted the force for an update.
Activists demanded ‘trans liberation’ and ‘trans rights now’, with some waving flags and holding banners.
The Metropolitan Police today launched an appeal for information after seven statues were defaced during the day’s protest.
The statues of Jan Christian Smuts, Nelson Mandela, Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, Millicent Fawcett, Earl of Derby and Viscount Palmerston were all defaced.
‘F** rights’ and a heart were chalked onto the banner held by suffragist Millicent Fawcett, and ‘trans rights are human rights’ were spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts.
The Metropolitan Police are hunting for the trans-rights activists who have defaced a number of statues in Westminister
Statues were defaced with phrases such as ‘trans rights’ and ‘trans joy’ during the protest
The statues of Jan Christian Smuts, Nelson Mandela, Sir Robert Peel, Benjamin Disraeli, Millicent Fawcett, Earl of Derby and Viscount Palmerston were all defaced
More graffiti on the statue of Lord Palmerston from trans activists during yesterday’s protest
The square is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.
Millicent Fawcett was a pioneer for women’s rights and led the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and advocated for women’s rights through peaceful, non-violent methods, including lobbying and public speaking.
Officers are currently searching through CCTV footage from the surrounding area to find the culprits and are appealing to anyone who may have been in attendance with information, footage or pictures to come forward by calling 101 quoting 01/7396927/25.
Chief Superintendent, Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said: ‘Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting.
‘While the police support the public’s right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible.
‘Working with the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans are underway to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly.
‘We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward.’
Officers said they are reviewing the footage from the protest and vowed to take action if there are signs displayed which are found to be in breach of the law.
