26/08/2023
The left wing group Alliance for Workers Liberty, in its newspaper Solidarity, calls for the release of Sarah Jane Baker, a trans activist who made the unwise, but not serious remark about "punching a TERF" at a transgender rights protest. The newspaper's article on Ms Baker is worth repeating in considerable part. " Sarah Jane Baker is currently a political prisoner. On Wednesday 12 July 2023 she was arrested because of a speech she made at Trans Pride (8 July). In it she said, “If you see a TERF, punch them in the fucking face”. It was not a helpful thing to say, and she has publicly apologised for it. It was said in anger, to be outrageous and to give confidence to her audience. She didn’t imagine that anyone would actually act on it. Since her release from prison in 2019 Sarah has never been violent to anyone. She has been the victim of transphobic assaults and harassment but has never retaliated. The initial response from the police was to take no further action. Sarah was under probation, for crimes she committed over 30 years ago, but probation also decided that her speech would not result in her recall to prison. However, after an intervention from the Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman, both the police and probation reversed their decisions. Sarah was charged under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, and her life licence was recalled. She was arrested and imprisoned, and will remain there indefinitely. It seems clear this action is politically motivated, and if this government can force police and probation to change their minds, in the pursuit of their culture war, then the threat to protesters and freedom of speech in all forms is clear. To add to the injustice Sarah has been sent to a male jail. She is challenging this, and hopes to be transferred to a female jail soon. Sarah Jane Baker is a well-known campaigner on trans rights and a variety of other issues. She has worked on prisoners’ rights, Black Lives Matter, Stop HS2... Sarah has always championed freedom of expression and identity and continues to do so, even whilst behind bars. She has significant support, and a campaign to free her has formed. There have been two well-attended demonstrations outside the court where her case is being dealt with, and more demonstrations planned for future court sessions. She will be appearing via video link on 17 August at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and her trial will be on 31 August in the City of London Magistrates’ court. There will be demonstrations both days from 10am.
Future events to raise awareness are planned including exhibitions and performances. As well as being a campaigner Sarah is an author of two books: Transgender Behind Prison Walls and Life Imprisonment: an unofficial guide, the latter published under an old name. She has another book due to be published in the coming weeks. She is an award-winning composer, artist, violinist, guitarist and poet. Future events will feature her art in its many forms as well as contributions and collaborations from her many creative friends and supporters".
https://www.workersliberty.org/index.php/
