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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Ross Hunter

Patrick Harvie calls on police to investigate 'vile abuse' at Holyrood protest

A SCOTTISH Government minister has called for police to investigate “vile abuse” seen at an anti gender reform protest held outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday.

Hundreds of protesters were outside Holyrood, with representatives from the Scottish Family Party, Unionist Clubs Scotland and supporters of the Glasgow Cabbie to show opposition to legislation making it easier for transgender people to have their gender legally recognised.

As a pro-LGBT counter-protest attempting to drown out the group with a lively disco, The National recorded one protester calling them “child molesters” and “paedophiles”.

Now, Scottish Greens co-leader and minister Patrick Harvie has intervened to encourage the Scottish Parliament and police to look into the situation.

“As far back as 2009, all parties in Parliament passed my Bill to take homophobic and transphobic hate crime more seriously. Now this vile abuse is taking place right outside Holyrood,” he wrote.

“I expect @ScotParl and @PoliceScotland to examine the video evidence and take urgent action.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland told The National: 

"Officers were in attendance at a protest and counter protest outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, 12 January, 2023.

"No complaints were received from any member of the public and no crimes were recorded.”

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