Trans Activist Group Issues Guide to “Rarely Legal” Direct Action

Militant transgender activist group Bash Back has issued a “direct action” guide to members, urging them to arm themselves and carry out repeated illegal attacks on MPs and organisations. The Times has the story.

The group, known as Bash Back, told activists to form “independent local cells”, “identify a target” — including MPs, organisations and political party conferences — and “ensure your target can be hit repeatedly until they desist” from their “transphobic” activities.

The group set out tactics for what it described as direct action, admitting it would be “rarely legal”, and warned participants they could face charges including criminal damage, possession of an offensive weapon and aggravated trespass. The document also included practical advice on carrying out attacks and how to escape detection afterwards.

An equipment section listed items such as a hammer and advised activists to clean tools with alcohol or dispose of them after use “in unsurveilled residential bins”. It suggested stealing the equipment to avoid being traced.

Activists were told to use encrypted messaging services such as Signal, with disappearing messages enabled.

They were also urged to use pink paint to ensure their actions were recognised as the work of Bash Back.

A promotional image on the document featured the slogan “smash transphobia” alongside a masked figure holding a hammer and an invitation to “choose your weapon”.

Bash Back has described itself as a “nonviolent direct action group”. It was set up after the Supreme Court ruling last year which concluded that the definition of a woman in the Equality Act was based on biological sex.

The ruling was welcomed by women’s rights campaigners but other groups, including Stonewall and TransActual, have described it as “devastating” for transgender people.

Bash Back said on its website that its tactics focused on “striking where it hurts” and acknowledged that its methods involved unlawful activity, but said it did not condone violence.

The group has claimed responsibility for attacks on the constituency office of Wes Streeting, the prison contractor Sodexo and the Free Speech Union, saying the actions were carried out in solidarity with Prisoners for Palestine. It also targeted the offices of the Equality and Human Rights Commission last year.

Worth reading in full.