Peter Tatchell ‘forcibly removed’ by police from Birmingham Pride parade
Activist Peter Tatchell has said he was “forcibly removed” by police from a Pride parade where he was a guest speaker.
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The human rights campaigner, who gave a speech at the launch of the Birmingham Pride event on Saturday, claimed he was told to leave the march by an officer who said event organisers had directed the removal.
West Midlands Police said Mr Tatchell was not arrested.
The 73-year-old, who was marching with a placard that called on police to apologise “for anti-LGBT+ witch-hunts”, said: “When I detailed some of the things the police did in the 1970s and 80s, the police laughed. They laughed in my face.
“Then they crowded around me blowing whistles so I couldn’t speak to the public.
“About halfway down New Street a steward working with the police tried to eject me and other members of my foundation. The police tried to drag me out.
“I asked them who’s your authority and they blanked me. I said I’m not leaving until you tell me which authority told you. At that point they let me march on.
“About 10 minutes later I was ejected. It’s shocking – not that I got forcibly removed from the parade, but what makes it worse is that the police falsely claimed parade organisers told them to remove me.
“All the people with my foundation were removed and were threatened with arrest unless they left.”
Birmingham Pride organisers said Mr Tatchell was an invited guest speaker at a large community event on Friday and at the official launch of the march from Centenary Square on Saturday.
Organiser David Nash said: “We can confirm that Peter Tatchell was authorised to take part in the parade.
“Peter is an internationally recognised human rights activist and we can categorically confirm that absolutely no instruction was given by anyone from Birmingham Pride to West Midlands Police to remove him.
“Further, we do not understand why this action was undertaken.”
Birmingham Pride director Lawrence Barton said: “Peter was a very special guest today. There’s no way on the planet we would have endorsed the police removing him.”
Mr Tatchell said: “I’ve marched in dozens of Birmingham Prides before without incident.
“My speech included a criticism of the police’s refusal to apologise. I fear that may have riled them and caused them to remove me later on.
“It’s so painful because we want a good relationship with the police.”
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “We assisted security staff at Saturday’s event with the removal of a man who made his way amongst people who were taking part in the parade. He was not arrested.”
