Activists Lie In Streets At Manchester Pride To Protest Treatment Of Trans Inmates

The group also said police officers should not be allowed to march in the parade.
From: NewNowNext

A group of LGBT activists lay in the streets during Manchester Pride on Saturday in order to draw attention to the poor treatment of transgender prisoners.

The protesters want to see trans inmates be sent to prisons that correspond with their gender identity, and also argue that LGBT people are being locked up at a much higher rate than their straight counterparts.

Jess Bradley participated in the demonstration and said the group was also protesting the building of a proposed prison in Manchester next year.

“Today we have taken action in solidarity with trans and queer prisoners and against the building of a new US-style prison in Manchester,” she said. “We call upon the government to implement a nationwide ban on prison expansion and an urgent review into the conditions within prisons for LGBTQ prisoners.”

Bradly also expressed anger over the fact that local police are able to participate in the Pride parade.

“It’s outrageous that police officers, who collude in the oppression of LGBTQ people within prisons, are allowed to march at Manchester Pride,” she said.