Anti-trans activist Posie Parker (real name Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull) has officially departed New Zealand after thousands showed up to protest her speech in Auckland.
Parker, who was set to make a second stop in the nationâs capital of Wellington, cut her trip short after all signs pointed to a repeat of Saturdayâs enormous counter-protest.
The Brit was photographed at Auckland Airport on Saturday night being escorted by police to her gate.
Local publication Stuff NZ called Parker to explain why she was booting. âI wouldnât be telling anyone my plans,â she responded before reaffirming that she didnât trust the media.
Pretty sent after a party and a wild dash to the airport, and then this đââď¸ pic.twitter.com/0uKRdXS9uH
â build more houses (@antiboomerparty) March 25, 2023
To catch you up, Saturday morning Parker rocked up to Albert Park in the centre of Auckland, New Zealandâs most populous city, expecting to speak with her supporters.
Instead, she was met by a bunch of LGBT+ community members and allies who wouldnât tolerate a bar of her hatred spewing.
Counterprotestors have taken over the Albert Park Rotunda and Posie Parker didnât get to say a single word. Thatâs us, Auckland. Thatâs us. pic.twitter.com/LZFmE7AZwu
â Shaneel Lal đ§đť (They/Them) (@shaneellall) March 24, 2023
After realising the speech wouldnât go ahead as planned (and having a jar of tomato sauce emptied onto her head), Parker was led to the Auckland Central Police Station.
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â Nihilarity (@Nihilarity) March 24, 2023
âIâve never seen anything like this,â Parker told Stuff, clearly desperate to paint herself as the victim and not the instigator.
âWhat a shameful day for New Zealand.â
âMaybe itâs time say âwe canât do itâ [go to Wellington],â she said in a YouTube video while leaving the scene.
Per the NZ Herald, 500 members of the Destiny Church had gathered in support of Parker.
Some members were holding anti-trans signs which read âlet our kids be kidsâ and âwe represent fed-up familiesâ which felt very dĂŠjĂ vu after witnessing the scenes at Melbourneâs protest last week.
Before the Wellington leg of Parkerâs tour was cancelled, the cityâs Mayor Tory Whanau had encouraged her electorate to follow Aucklandâs lead and show up in protest.
The mayor predicted the Brit would likely âreceive the same response from a community who are very protective of the trans communityâ.
âIt would be great if the community really show visibly that they are allies, and that they care about our trans and rainbow whÄnau.â
If youâd like to talk about the issues raised in this story, you can call the QLife LGBTI peer support hotline on 1800 184 527 or chat online.Â
QLife operates between 3pm and midnight daily.
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