Police and protesters face off at site of Sydney transphobic attack
Image: Assault victim Stephanie McCarthy after her attack at Newtown's Town Hall Hotel.
POLICE last night blocked access to a Sydney pub as hundreds gathered to protest after an attack on a trans* woman in response to allegations the venue did not do enough to prevent the incident from occurring.
Stephanie McCarthy was due to play a gig at the venue on Friday night with her band Love Maul when the incident occurred which left her with a black eye, bloodied lip and bruising.
Around 200 people were estimated to have attended a snap rally in the LGBTI-centric inner west suburb of Newtown less than 48 hours after McCarthy was bashed in the nearby Town Hall Hotel.
“This is not a women’s issue, or a transgender issue, or a gay and lesbian issue – this is everyone’s issue,” she told the crowd.
She blamed the 1.30am lockouts in central Sydney for driving punters to venues in Newtown.
“The diversity in Newtown is what makes it so special and to see it slowly getting eroded by the violence which has been brought in here because of the lockouts — we’ve got to stand up and stop it,” McCarthy told website MusicFeed.
#Newtown community showing their support at the Hub http://t.co/9oyha0yLMw @InnerWestNews #sydney pic.twitter.com/3Phj27G0Mo
— tanydd (@tanydd) June 8, 2015
This is how the @nswpolice respond to an anti-trans bashing at the Townie. Protect it as a peaceful gathering starts. pic.twitter.com/sWzwbw2ZL1 — Ted Bear (@that_cub) June 8, 2015
However, anger has so far focused on Town Hall Hotel, known locally as the Townie, over their response to the incident with suggestions the culprits may have managed to leave the venue before police arrived and CCTV footage was too indistinct to identify those allegedly involved.
On the pub’s Facebook page a post signed off by “The Townie Management Team” said they aimed to provide a safe and inclusive venue for all members of the community.
“A recent unfortunate incident of unwarranted violence against another person has been both shocking and deeply regrettable,” the post read.
“We have taken statements from all bar and security staff and as yet have been unable to find anyone that was spoken to by Stephanie about the men involved prior to the assault occurring.”
A further post under the venue’s name by someone who identified herself as Sally the “sound lady” said: “What happened last night was shit, we in no way condone this behaviour and have not seen it happen at the Townie in recent years.
“That said, it’s a large venue and incidents occur… we remove people frequently and in most cases before anyone can get hurt.
“Unfortunately this time it was not resolved before reaching that point.”
McCarthy said the Town Hall did “everything wrong” following the incident, alleged the offender was allowed “to walk out” and suggested the venue was victim blaming.
“They were warned about these guys… but they kept serving them,” she said on Facebook.
“And then they get to bash and women and then leave.
“What kind of a message [does] that send to your female patrons?” she added.
“This has been one of the most awful experiences of my life but the Townie is blaming the victim and her friends.”
Demonstrators walked to the pub and stood next to the police with banners that read “train your staff” with chants of “no transphobia” and “shame, Townie shame”.
In a statement Superintendent Simon Hardman of Newtown Police said: “While we respect the rights of people to hold peaceful protests, the NSW Police Force also understands the right for companies to carry out their lawful business”.
No arrests were made and the group dispersed without incident, said Police, who urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers in 1800 333 000.
Hi everyone couldn’t agree more about the increasing violence creeping into Newtown’s Streets on weekends at night…going home from Bar or Pubs…Shopping trolleys get pushed around the Streets into cars…fights break out in the early hours of the morning while most are sleeping..but then woken by agressive noises.
I am having a Candle light Vigil in Victoria Park 6pm on the 27th June for Domestic Violence and the 43 women senselessly murdered….lets not let our wonderful Newtown Community turn into an un safe place to live.
Bloody lock out laws ! These bastards can go get fucked, don’t let them take away the happiness and peacefulness of the newtown community . The town hall hotel are to blame for not protecting an innocent person of such hate crime . Stand together newtown and don’t let these idiots take over with their violent and homophobic behavior ! I’ve just completed a security course and I’m sickened to think that their security guards who’s main purpose is to protect the community were left with their hands in pocket doing nothing to help . What a disgrace . SHAME ON THEM !
Newtown should start having a lock out law too.
Why are people so cruel to anyone who is just different?
Substandard interlectual development bout on by the Howard years of Hate, and the Abbott years of Super Hate. A society now at war with everything. The insemination of State intelligence with rancid globalised hate thought. Not fogetting the tutor of all ignorance Ruperts Terrorgraph.
They hit her because she was transgender ,hello that’s a transgender issue ,did u read she statement ,please people
Shes a woman. Never hit a woman
Yeah sue the ass off the club they didn’t give a stuff !! If they did this would not have happened !!
We all fail ! it’s time to stand up and have the courage to care ,they have CTV the assailants will be arrested and then our judicial system will fail our society , time to say NO and kick back !
Club=Fail Sue!
This is so sad. As a local we have watched King St become increasingly aggressive since lock out laws in the cba. Sadly the rift raft drunks that were scattered through out the city are now flooding into Newtown on Friday and Saturdays and polluting it.
Lock out laws for the CBA? I knew the Commonwealth Bank had some dodgy people while some can be considered outright criminals, but I didn’t think that it resulted in a surge in violence in Newtown… ;)
LOL – sorry – lock out CBD!