Bristol City Council has today issued a statement to say it will not tolerate any discrimination or abuse aimed at any community, following protests at a library event for young children in the city. Drag Queen Story Hour was scheduled to begin a series of library appearances in Bristol today, starting at Henleaze Library, however the event was later cancelled as protesters against the event gathered outside.
Drag Queen Story Hour began its national summer tour on Monday, July 25, in Reading where its founder and performer Aida H Dee, who grew up in Bristol, had her reading interrupted by protesters, two of which organisers said had "gained access to the story hour by using their own disabled autistic child as a 'human trojan horse'.
The police had to get involved and Aida herself had to be escorted out of the event, with officers having to form a 'human wall' to protect her from an assault, or a 'citizen's arrest' - something even protesters here in Bristol today said they were planning on doing. Police also attended today's Bristol event in Henleaze, acting as a barrier between two opposing groups of protesters.
