On 21st September, the organisation “Let Women Speak” held a rally in Sheffield. Women of the City were invited, by women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen, to voice their opinions on women’s sex-based rights and their experiences of how it has affected their lives. As the event began, the organiser herself and one of her team were assaulted by a man who broke through the police line and doused the women in soup. It was horrific to watch a tiny figure like Keen, pounced upon by a huge man. He could have done almost anything to her, and the knowledge of that left women gathered there shaken. She did well to recover herself quickly and continue assisting those women to speak. 

A statement put out by Hallam Students Union ahead of the event for “counter-protesters” said:

We understand the importance of dialogue and diverse perspectives, and we fully support our students’ right to express themselves peacefully.

It then advised students on how to stay safe and access help, listing several resources.

I saw first-hand how these students, and their fellow rent-a-mob members, demonstrated they were “understanding the importance of dialogue”. They were screaming, shouting and harassing the women and men in attendance. I spoke and left the microphone hoarse from trying to make myself heard over the screaming mob assembled to stop women speaking. Some of them looked positively unhinged and if any had broken through the retreating police line, I think they would have been dangerous. The man arrested for assaulting Kellie Jay Keen, and the two masked men who remained close to him and then stood to the side of women looking to break police lines, were malevolent and sinister. The people needing to be kept safe were those people inside the police cordon and attempting to speak. Let Women Speak isn’t a protest, it is just women speaking. A “counter protest” is simply an act of aggression against the women speaking. 

As I was waiting to speak, a friend had spotted a black man we both know in the crowd and alerted me. It was Winston Hazel, a legendary Sheffield DJ. He is a phenomenal character in the city and has played DJ sets since the mid to late eighties. Anyone who was a club visitor here in the 80s and 90s knows Winston. He is also a tremendously, and unquestionably, lovely guy. There was an exhibition honouring his life and work in the Graves Art Gallery last month. I went over to say hello to him and to thank him for coming and showing solidarity with women. The crowd behind drowned out our words by screaming “fascists” on repeat. It was surreal. Hazel was subsequently harassed for being “on the wrong side”. I saw very few black faces amongst the “anti-racism” crew hurling their woman-hatred towards us. I saw a lot of young people there who had no idea who Hazel is or how important he is to Sheffield black history. I wish I could make them feel deep shame, but their hatred of women runs so deep, they feel no regret for their actions. 

Subsequently, a furore ensued as Winston Hazel revealed that he was cancelled the day before he was due to play a set at Hagglers Corner — a venue in Sheffield. Hazel posted a hugely brave and incredibly eloquent statement on his Facebook. As a direct result of him attending “Let Women Speak”, Hagglers Corner, acting on an unspecified complaint, dismissed him from his work there, citing the need to adhere to their “Safe Space Policy”.

No one from the venue had called Winston. He was unable to let attendees know in advance that he would not appear. A man with an impeccable reputation, known for his unerringly polite manner, was denied work for listening to women speak about their rights. I would need someone to sit down and explain to me, possibly with pictures and speaking very slowly, how a man listening to women speak in the street, could subsequently be dangerous to people in a separate place altogether. How could anyone be made unsafe by music played by a man who might not think the same as you do? This is a ludicrous assertion. Thinking isn’t violence. Listening to women isn’t dangerous. 

As Winston says:

For me, a long timer of the independent club and music scene, probably older than most attempting to attack my reputation, there is only a need for a safe space for Women in a venue. Women need a place of refuge to escape, creeps, drunks, and yes possible predators in a club or bar. We all knew this once, but apparently that space isn’t inclusive and now has to allow men to have access.

Hagglers Corner issued their own statement. The words “inclusive/inclusivity” appear four times and yet hypocritically, a black man can be excluded because some young gender-drunk fools, buoyed up with a sense of self-righteous, poison pen energy, demand it? 

Hagglers say, “we are dedicated to creating an environment that supports and respects all members of our community.” Not black men or their sincerely held philosophical beliefs though, both of which are protected within the Equality Act 2010? I cannot see any respect for Winston in the way Hagglers have treated him.

They continue with:

This means standing against any form of discrimination, ensuring all our patrons can feel safe, and prioritising the safety and dignity of marginalised people, including transgender individuals.

The glaringly obvious fact is that the venue revoked work they previously offered to someone based on his perceived opinions on views on women’s rights. This is discriminatory. 

What the bullies who attended “Let Women Speak” to scream and shout at women, assault them and make them fear further violence failed to recognise is that the Sheffield spirit is something rather special. It is made of steel, not easily bent or broken. Winston Hazel exhibited that when he said:

I do not fear cancellation, as it is the default for the weak minded. I do fear however for the safety of Women and girls. So, I will not bow down to the baying mob, who no doubt would have thrown stones at suffragettes, and cheered on the burning of women accused of witchcraft.

Hazel has not wandered into this debate by accident. He was clearly well aware of the potential risks faced when you are outspoken about the essential single-sex spaces women need for safety, privacy and dignity. He took the trans bullies by surprise, I think. They have become used to terms like “transphobic bigot” forcing the famous to fear their accusations. Hazel is no such character, and his brave statement shows he will not be made to kneel. 

This courage to stand by women, even when your work and reputation are threatened by the gender bullies, is something so many in the music industry lack. It was great to see Roisin Murphy, another veteran of the Sheffield club scene, step forward to support Winston Hazel. Roisin wrote, “Of course #IStandWithWinstonHazel always & forever. The soul of Sheffield. The best DJ ever and a wonderful human.”

Both are music industry figures not bolstered by millions in the bank, but they do have priceless backbones. It would be good to see those who are more protected than these two, step forward knowing that the only way is to stand with women speaking the truth.

As Winston Hazel says:

If I were to go along with this, just to get along, like so many do, I would be failing in my duty to my Mother, My Wife, Daughter, My sisters, nieces, aunties and the oppressed women of the world.

So do your worst, I will do my best.

If you aren’t currently doing your best, as Winston is, try harder, stand taller, shout louder. As a friend of mine likes to say, “women are watching” and currently we have our eyes on Hagglers Corner.