A man who identifies as a woman, Sarah Jane Baker, who previously served 30 years for kidnap and attempted murder, has been recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions.
On 8th July 2023, while speaking at ‘Trans Pride+’, prolific trans activist, Baker, told the large crowd "if you see a 'TERF', you should punch them in the f*****g face!".
“TERF” is an acronym for ‘Trans Exlusionary Radical Feminist’ used by trans activists as a derogatory term for women who assert their sex based rights.
Footage of the event circulated on social media causing a public outcry and after reports to the Metropolitan Police, Baker was arrested on 12th July.
Watch the video that circulated here:
Baker was charged under section 4a of the Public Order Act, which states that a person is guilty of an offence if they use “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour”.
Baker denied the charge and was remanded in custody. On 17th August, the court charged Baker with a second offence of “intentionally encouraging the commission of an offence, namely assault by beating”.
Baker denies both charges and a trial date is set for 31st August at City of London Magistrates’ Court.
Status
The trial took place on 31st August at City of London's Magistrates’ Court, 2023. The first charge of causing harassment was discontinued before the hearing, during which, Judge Tan Ikram found Baker NOT GUILTY on second count of encouraging violence.
Reports
(The Judge didn't see our application in time to grant or deny live tweeting, and so we reported in person and published here)
31 Aug 2023 morning- Defence argues prosecution has failed disclosure
31 Aug 2023 afternoon - Trial begins and concludes
Abbreviations
J - Judge Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram
P - Prosecution, Kabir Sondhi
D - Defence, Lucinda Nicholls
SB - Sarah Jane Baker, the defendent
C - Clerk
Press Coverage
Here are links to a selection of relevant press coverage about this case. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only, with most recent first - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.
1 Sept 2023
Daily Sceptic - Trans Activist Sarah Jane Baker Who Told Rally Crowd to “Punch Terfs in the Face” Cleared of Breaking Law
The Pink Times - Trans Activist Sarah Jane Baker Found Not Guilty of Inciting Violence at London Trans+ Pride
31 Aug 2023
Daily Mail - Trans activist Sarah Jane Baker who told crowd to 'punch a TERF' is cleared of encouraging people to break the law
The Telegraph - Trans activist who told crowd to ‘punch a terf’ cleared at court
BBC - Sarah Jane Baker: Trans activist cleared of inciting violence
Evening Standard - Trans activist Sarah Jane Baker found not guilty of encouraging violence with ‘punch a Terf’ speech
Pink News - Sarah Jane Baker supporters blame ‘political game-playing’ for arrest as trial begins
21 Aug 2023
Attitude - Trans activist Sarah Jane Baker ‘begins hunger strike’ while being held in male prison
17th Aug 2023
Evening Standard- Trans activist Sarah Jane Baker faces second criminal charge over Pride rally speech
1 August 2023
Worker's Liberty - Free Sarah Jane Baker
31 July 2023
Pink News - Sarah Jane Baker: Trans woman held in male prison after ‘punch TERFs’ Pride speech
26 July 2023
Pink news - Sarah Jane Baker: Trans woman arrested over ‘Punch TERFs’ speech recalled to prison
20 July 2023
18 July 2023
Feminist Current - Trans activist arrested for telling crowd at London Pride to punch ‘TERFs’ in the face
17 July 2023
16 July 2023
[VIDEO] Spiked - The trans activist who wants to ‘punch a TERF’
[VIDEO] Free Speech Nation - Ex con trans activist tell crowd at a trans rally "punch a TERF in the f****** face!"
Unherd - Calls for violence in the trans debate only come from one side
13 July 2023
Fox News - UK police arrest trans activist for calling to 'punch' gender ideology critics 'in the f---ing face'
GB News - Trans activist arrested after telling rally of supporters to 'punch' feminists
Daily Mail - STEPHEN GLOVER: A culture war is raging, but the Tories haven't yet launched so much as a plastic battleship
12 July 2023
Daily Express - Trans people - who were born men - now cheered for saying women should be harmed
11 July 2023
Pink News - London Trans+ Pride addresses ‘punch TERFs’ speech backlash: ‘We do not condone violence’
CAPX - We deserve more than the woeful response to Sarah Jane Baker’s ‘punch Terfs’ rant
PKB News - What did Sarah Jane Baker do? Trans activist arrested for ‘incitement to violence’
10 July 2023
Spiked - ‘Punch a TERF’: the violent misogyny of the trans movement
The Telegraph - Watch: Trans+ Pride defends activist who told crowd to punch TERFs ‘in the f------ face’
The Spectator - How did Trans Pride allow itself to become a front for misogyny?
The Spectator - Trans activists don’t help themselves