Harry Potter fans have criticised pro-trans activists for a demo held at the opening of a huge new store devoted to the wizarding franchise in London's West End.
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fans → criticise → End
Hundreds of Harry Potter fans lined the country's busiest shopping district Oxford Street for the opening of the UK's largest themed superstore.
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Hundreds → line → superstore
Stars including Warwick Davis were present at the flagship new store's grand opening on Wednesday morning.
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Stars → include → morning
But demonstrators who oppose the franchise's author JK Rowling over her gender-critical views also assembled, with placards, megaphones and slogans.
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who → oppose → placards
Chants included 'Trans rights are human rights' and 'When trans are under attack, what do we do?
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we → include → what
There has now been a backlash from Harry Potter enthusiasts who were there and questioned whether the protests were necessary.
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protests → question → enthusiasts
Lewis, 29, and Ellie Goodenough, 24, were among those there for the opening, with Lewis saying of the protests: 'It's ridiculous - why don't you do something meaningful?
'
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you → say → something
They go on about trans rights.
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They → go → rights
They're saying trans rights, but it's just human rights.
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it → say → rights
What they're going on about?
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they → go → What
JK Rowling, more because she says some things.
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she → say → things
Trans rights protestors outside the Harry Potter store opening on London's Oxford Street
Harry Potter fans Lewis, 29, and Ellie Goodenough, 24, were among those there for the opening
Fellow enthusiasts were Michal and Gabrielle, with Gabrielle saying of the demonstrators: 'I don't think what they are doing is actually helping'
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they → open → what
He described the demonstrations as 'quite intimidating', adding: 'It is a children's store.
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It → describe → demonstrations
You can't even hear the music inside - you can just hear them.'
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you → hear → them
Another couple visiting were Michal and Gabrielle, with Gabrielle saying: 'I don't think what they are doing is actually helping.
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doing → visit → what
Michal said: 'I think if we start looking at every person behind every store on Oxford Street, we will stop.
'We will not get into any stores because there's always someone whose views you don't agree with.'
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you → say → views
Lea Bidault, visiting while on holiday from France, said: 'I think we shouldn't have politics in something like Harry Potter, because there's nothing to do with it.
'
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we → visit → it
JK Rowling wrote the book - OK, but all the universe is something special and it has nothing to do with politics right now.
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it → write → politics
A demonstrator holds a sign while chanting in support of transgender rights gather outside the new Harry Potter Shop in London's Oxford Street
The protest was held by opponents of author JK Rowling's gender-critical views
Harry Potter author JK Rowling is a prominent gender critical and feminist campaigner
'
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Rowling → hold → views
I have nothing against them.
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I → have → them
I think they have nothing against me and I really just love Harry Potter, and I'm not friends with JK Rowling, so I'm not really concerned about that, because I think it's two separate things and it has to be separate.'
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it → think → that
In contrast, one pro-trans demonstrator earlier said: 'We will be here protesting all day.
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We → say → contrast
We're sorry for the noise but unfortunately kids are dying.
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kids → die → noise
Trans kids are killing themselves.
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kids → kill → themselves
Trans kids are homeless and we need to think about those children.'
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we → need → children
One protester, who gave their name as West, told the Daily Mail: 'People don't realise the extent to which them sponsoring this franchise directly harms trans people and hopefully over time, as they come to realise that, then they'll stop doing that.
'
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they → give → that
I don't think every person in this queue today has been, you know, has just been blindly giving money to this.
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you → think → this
The average person doesn't realise that the people they're surrounded with are largely bigots, right?
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they → realise → ?
People supporting Harry Potter, while knowing this information, are largely anti-trans, you know, anti-queer rights to some degree, and probably have other natures of bigotry that they have as well.
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they → support → that
'And I think that's poor company to keep and I don't think they know at this point that they're keeping it.'
Jazz Lander, 37, said of Ms Rowling: 'On the one hand, she taught me how to read.
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she → think → me
On the other hand, she's trying to destroy all my civil rights.
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she → try → rights
Fans wait outside to visit the new Harry Potter flagship store on Oxford Street in London
Christmas lights on Oxford Street will be replaced this year with a Harry Potter theme to mark the release of the new HBO series
'
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lights → wait → series
It's a terrible dilemma, so to be honest, I would just say, it's not my place to tell you what to do with your own money.
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it → say → money
Make up your own mind whether you want to buy her stuff or not.
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you → make → stuff
'But regardless of what you do with your own money, I would like to try to encourage you and encourage you and ask you to turn out to support trans rights.
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I → like → rights
I wouldn't want this boycott to put off Harry Potter fans from supporting trans rights.
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boycott → want → rights
Diehard Harry Potter fans had donned their best themed costumes and began queueing late on Tuesday night to be in with the chance of being among the first through the doors.
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fans → don → doors
The flagship shop spans more than 21,000 square feet over two floors and is inspired by Diagon Alley – the magical shopping street from the hit book series.
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shop → span → series
Trans activists previously launched a petition against Harry Potter-themed Christmas lights in London, claiming they would make members of the LGBTQ+ community feel unwelcome due to JK Rowling's 'anti-trans' views.
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members → launch → views
Festive decorations have been set up on Oxford Street to promote the release of the new HBO Harry Potter TV series on December 25 – but HBO recently confirmed the three main child stars would not attend the official switch-on.
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stars → set → on
…and 32 more, not listed.
The Aporia
