Men in Womanface Prove the Patriarchy Still Exists in Port Townsend, WA in 2022
Women are once again second class citizens to men in this tourist destination
In a brave and stunning show of defiance, a mob of 250-300 trans rights activists in Port Townsend attempted to silence a group of 35, mostly older/disabled women and their male allies. When push came to literal shove, these men proved the patriarchy is alive in 2022.
The women held the line and were not intimidated. The women won because the attack drew international condemnation due to the violence against them. Shaming women for wanting to have boundaries around who has access to their bodies is the epitome of rape culture.
The event on August 15th was a press conference in support of Julie Jaman, an 80 year old woman who was banned for life from the YMCA for objecting to the presence of a trans identified male employee in the locker room while she was showering. He was supervising young girls using the toilet, including helping them with their swimsuits. Jaman’s protective instinct kicked in.
According to co-organizer Amy Sousa, the press conference was to be “a public record of our dissent.”
REPORT FROM BEHIND THE LINE
It was a profound experience, one I am still processing. While intense, I was not scared, mainly because of how well we worked as a team—our coordination was near magical. We communicated with eye contact and gestures. It felt like we were part of a hive mind, acting on instinct.
The group had discussed defense before the action and one reason we picked the location was that we had a brick wall behind us so we would not be able to be surrounded on all sides.
I was also reassured by the presence of Robert Zerfing, The Commonsense Conservative, a veteran streamer who is large bodied. Zerfing, who has been covering political violence in the PNW since 2017, would be protection but also a target. That being said, I knew he was experienced in covering the action and were I to be hurt, there would be a good chance he would get it on camera for the record.
From an August 18th RevFoxx press release:
“Prior to the event, Amy E. Sousa, co-founder of RevFoxx and lead-organizer of the event, reached out to Chief Olson to get his assurance that the women and seniors attending would be protected from potential counter-protesters. She was assured his mission was to protect people and property, which he would achieve by keeping protesters and counter-protesters on opposite sides of the area.”
As the TRAs closed in, the women held hands, then linked arms, trying to keep a reasonable perimeter around the speaker, camera, mic and amplifier. Counter protesters pressed closer and breached our line by going under our hands. One man, dubbed The Worm, later identified as Alexander Zachary French, used the technique of infiltration, wriggling and somersaulting on the ground. It was harder to defend against, but we did.
The noise was overwhelming, partially due to the acoustics of the wall behind us. It sounded like we were in a stadium. The chant of “Transwomen are women” was repeated with religious fervor. It can only be described as zealotry.
Crowds have a psychology of their own, and the hate radiating off of them was a visceral feeling that is hard to describe. The situation could best be described as volatile.
This was my first time inside of a melee situation but I remembered my training. Keep situational awareness. Never use your hands, use your body to block. Stay calm, do not let emotions take over. Do not retaliate, only defend. Have each other’s back.
The amplifier became the main target and we protected it on all sides with our bodies. Jennifer Thomas sat on the amplifier, and others, including Gabrielle Clark, surrounded her. I was behind Thomas, pressed against her, literally having her back so she could not be pushed off the sound system. Men reached between women’s legs to get at the amplifier plug.
Thomas was assaulted by French, losing her glasses and a shoe in the scuffle. On Friday, Thomas reported on Twitter, “My neck still hurts, I've been in pain since Monday evening, and my foot and wrist are messed up too.” I heard of one woman who twisted their ankle. A male ally was doxxed. Some had PTSD reactions.
TRAs briefly interrupted the live stream by attempting to steal the camera. At one point, they pulled the plug on the amplifier but we managed to reclaim it and lost audio for only a minute or two. We held our ground for nearly an hour and ten people spoke.
The TRAs fought dirty but at least there were no projectiles or explosives as in other similar protests. Still many woman bore the dust of the brick wall on their suffragette white.
The video below captures the fight for the amplifier.
One attendee, anonymous for her protection, later wrote:
“Despite Amy and Julie being permitted for their event, unfortunately the Port Townsend police officers did not adequately separate protesters and counter protesters into their own spaces. Counter protesters encroached upon the space of the speakers and tried to take signs and flags. I saw one counter protester grab one of the protester's phone and run away with it; they threw it on the ground and tried to crush it with their foot before it was recovered.
“I was approached by someone who verbally abused me despite standing quietly at the periphery, holding my signs and saying nothing. I did have one gentlemen from the counter protesters who approached me and asked me some questions about my views, and I questioned him in turn. It is too bad that the general atmosphere was too loud and hostile from counter protesters being physically aggressive to allow more of these conversations and dialogue.”
They tried to break our cameras, French tried to steal phones. They tried to prevent us from filming by using Pride flags as barriers. They tore down the suffragette flags but the Clark recovered them. They tore up signs. The bikes ran into people.
These were not far right women, most would identify as from the left. I found this refreshing as so many women on the left support the erosion of women’s rights.
The person quoted above stated:
“My opinion on the YMCA event: Something is seriously wrong when an adult voicing a concern about child safety at the YMCA is demonized banned for life from the YMCA. Especially considering the individual Julie saw in the locker room had only announced they were trans several months prior, of course she should have said something when she saw a male-appearing individual in the women's locker room watching girls changing.
“I have been independent of organized feminist advocacy until realizing the importance of the transgender issue as the critical feminist issue of our generation. Increasing questions and concerns about how gender ideology negatively impacts women have led me to attend a feminist panel in Seattle in 2020 as well as this protest.”
It was important enough for this woman to travel from Olympia to attend, as did I. Others came from Portland, Pennsylvania, Texas and the Seattle region. Many were Port Townsend residents.
REACTION FROM A PORT TOWNSEND RESIDENT
Lee North, writing for the Port Townsend Free Press, stated:
“I wanted to witness the further unfolding of the Y pool incident for myself, rather than rely on the oft-biased narratives of others.
“Port Townsend had drawn attention from across the political spectrum; I’d heard that the Proud Boys were going to be there. They weren’t, but as it turned out, we didn’t need right-wing extremists in order to have violence. Had I not witnessed firsthand what transpired, I would never have believed it possible. The behavior of the trans-rights activists — in the name of ‘love’ and ‘tolerance’ — astounded and sickened me.
“Upon arrival, I positioned myself on the perimeter of the rally supporting Julie so that I could attempt to hear what the speakers were saying. I carried no sign nor indicated any allegiance, yet when I took out my phone to film both sides, a burly tattooed man invaded my space, shouting and covering my phone with his hat.
“Next came folks on bicycles, weaving through the small crowd, making as much noise as possible and bumping into people (I suppose we are fortunate in this regard the violence came from the left; the Proud Boys would have been driving cars). Behind me, the burly man pushed right up against a couple of women, screaming, ‘You fucking cunt!’ Meanwhile, another man scolded me: ‘You should be ashamed of yourself!’
“‘For what?’ I asked. ‘For listening?’
“While city councilors were inside City Hall congratulating themselves on their proclamation that ‘urges all residents and visitors to be respectful, welcoming, and kind to everyone’ . . . outside the mob was anything but. As I continued to watch in disbelief, it became increasingly threatening and unruly.
“What I witnessed on Monday evening shook me to the core. The videos I’ve watched do not adequately convey the feeling of being there . . . As I was leaving, I stopped to thank one woman for her courage to be there. Because no matter how you feel about the issue, it took courage to stand there in the face of the hateful, angry mob that outnumbered them tenfold. When I got several blocks away, I stopped and let the tears flow.”
Other residents have expressed shock at people they knew participating in the mobbing or the other “good” people just standing by and doing nothing. Some were moved by our bravery, others dismissed and dehumanized us. This was a situation most of us have only read about in history books.
POLICE RESPONSE
The police stood across the street in front of City Hall from the “TERF terrorists” as we were manhandled and verbally abused. Women repeatedly called 911 for help.
Congressional candidate Elizabeth Kreiselmaier, who had spoken, pleaded with police for assistance. An officer replied, “Please let the folks there know that if they don’t feel safe being there, they’re free to leave. They’re free to leave that area.”
A male ally took a blow to the testicles. Alexander French wrapped himself around the legs of a male ally, his head in the man’s crotch and would not let go. Women stepped in to break his hold. When the police finally arrived he ran off. In this video clip taken from a PTPD bodycam after the event, French talks about his anxiety around police and tries to spin his involvement.
One arrest was made, Ryan Steven Harris, a 45 year old male was booked on two charges of assault. French was later arrested on September 3rd before the related Rally for Decency on Assault, Theft and Robbery charges due to his actions on August 15th.
The police knew there was going to be an altercation, were not prepared and not willing to intervene until violence happened. Even then, they did so reluctantly. They did not call for backup until a half an hour into the event when witnesses saw sheriff’s cars moving toward the event at high speed.
We were finally given guard aroudn six thrity so that we could leave unimpeded. The intimidation continued out of police presence as women were followed to their cars, one may have been followed home.
This lack of response has often been the case in the PNW in the past two years. When I warned Olympia Police Department of an impending fight between Antifa and the Proud Boys, outside of police headquarters, I asked if I could count on the police to protect me. I was told I “should be prepared to protect myself.” While I appreciated the honesty, it is a cold shock to realize you are on your own.
I expect the situation in Port Townsend will escalate as it has in other cities. Being fair, Port Townsend has never had an incident like this, but at the same time, they are in Washington state and should have awareness that violence was possible, especially given the number of TRAs gathered. I believe that by putting the focus of potential violence on the “TERFS,” PTPD ignored the threat posed by the much larger and aggressive group, angel winged by being favored.
The Port Townsend Free Press reports that the defund movement of 2020 left PTPD understaffed by 50%, this seems to have affected response. According to the August 18th press release, “After the event, Chief Olson told Sousa inadequate staffing was to blame for the lack of police action, also stating that the department wanted protesters and counter-protesters alike to have the chance to speak.”
An August 19th press release from Sousa reports:
“Event organizers were told by a Port Townsend police officer this week that his ‘highest priority was concern for the loss of life.’ When asked if the agitators among the estimated 350 protesters had guns, he said, ‘Yes. They had batons, pepper spray and appeared to be carrying concealed firearms.’ The officer, who helped RevFoxx Co-Founder Jennifer Thomas file assault charges against one of the main agitators wishes to remain unnamed. He confirmed that several felony assault charges have been laid.”
It is reported that there were members of the John Brown Gun Club present, as well as Antifa, though few were in black bloc, preferring the garish clown colors that now represent diversity and inclusion. The crowd was armed with batons, pepper spray and knives. They also coordinated using radio communications. About half of the crowd, including the bicyclists, seemed to have staged elsewhere, swooping in as the press conference began.
MAYOR DAVID FABER’S RESPONSE
Meanwhile, David J. Faber, the Mayor of Port Townsend tweeted about the “beautiful fashion” that the activists proved that “hate has no place here.” The irony is thick and I am hoping he comes to regret that comment as Jenny Durkan, the Mayor of Seattle did, when she called CHAZ/CHOP another “summer of love.”
Being fair, perhaps Faber did not actually witness what happened outside in the moment, but that shows his ignorance and how out of touch he is with reality. I am not sure which interpretation is favorable.
Faber also incited the TRAs before the event with a tweet that portrayed the women as violent extremists using a technique called phobia indoctrination. TERF is a slur which is used to dehumanize women in order to justify violence against them. The left has termed such language “stochastic terrorism” that will kill people.
They are especially offended when conservatives like Libs of TikTok present primary source footage of gender ideologists or Billboard Chris has conversations with people on the street. Another example of the Iron Law of Woke Projection.
For the record, almost all of the women protesting were from the left and none were wearing tactical gear or armed.
Faber follows and has tweeted support of @schoolboardbloc, an Antifa group that recruited agitators to attend the Let Julie Swim rally. The night before they tweeted, “It would be a shame if something happened to that sound system” which was the primary target of the counterprotesters. Wink, wink.
Faber further signaled his team by donating $200 to Clementine Adams vaginoplasty surgery fund. This demonstrates Faber is OK with a 19 year old making permanent alterations to his body that will most likely result in lifelong disability and pain.
Vaginoplasty complications include difficulty urinating, infertility and lack of sexual function. It requires months of bed rest to recover and three painful thirty minute dilation sessions per day for the first year and frequent sessions for life in order to keep the neovagina from closing. Infections are common as is followup surgery. Most doctors have no experience in treating patients with vaginoplasties and little is known about the long term effects of cross sex hormones.
The tweets and donation signal that women will not get a fair hearing from the government of Port Townsend. Faber had been dismissive since Julie Jaman went public. He clearly favors the rights of one group over the rights of another.
The night of the August 15th protest Port Townsend City Council voted on a proclamation in support of transgender people, citing violence done to them. No similar proclamation was made in support of women, only fake women have rights in Port Townsend. Real women are a problem to be managed, even though violence against women is an exponentially larger problem than is violence against trans people.
On August 19th, a RevFoxx press release quoted Sousa:
“We call for an emergency City Council meeting that will permit Juile Jaman and myself to offer comment, as well as publicly address the fact that Mayor Faber has openly supported Antifa, who he emboldened with dehumanizing and misogynistic language, and a hyperbolic claims that his own life was being threatened by the very women who were assaulted by men, encouraged and cheered on by the crowd.”
MEDIA RESPONSE
The Stranger weighed in, threatening “TERFS might wanna rethink their day trips to Port Townsend.” They were dismissive of rape as well, “As Port Townsend resident George Marie said during the council meeting, people often use cis women’s trauma as a thinly veiled attempt to justify transphobia.”
The Stranger apparently does not “Believe All Women” or support the #MeToo movement. One commenter blamed Julie Jaman for the violence, “a feminist (self-described) who asked about someone's genitalia. She kinda deserved what she got (though as I already said in far too many words, the optics of that protest weren't great).”
Two thirds of the speakers on August 15th were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of people with penises. Many of the women spoke of their abuse in their remarks on August 15th, as in the past, people refused to listen.
There is an interview with Clementine Adams on transphobic hate on the It Could Happen Here podcast where the interviewer calls the women “grifters who want to get trans people killed” and accuses them of painting a “pearl clutching picture of scary trans people attacking women.”
The podcast had a link to Adams’ GoFundMe, whose original $5K goal was raised to $25K post incident, with Adams raising over $20K in the past month. Adams reports being uncomfortable with the attention and with being villified, at the same time the host was comfortable making Jaman into a villain.
There were many inaccuracies in this podcast, one is the claim that the women tried to steal Pride flags. That did not happen. A good example of the Iron Law of Woke Projection as we have on film the TRAs trying to steal our flags.
The most striking revelation in the podcast is Adams attempting to spin the claim about being able to see Jaman or the children naked. In a remarkable self own, Adams says she was not wearing her glasses and “couldn’t see a thing,” a troubling accusation considering she was supervising young children in a pool.
I personally reject the claim made by some that Adams is a pedophile, and that men are not suitable in caregiver roles. While it is possible Adams had malign intent, I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. That being said, she did not follow proper procedure in having a second adult present in a sensitive situation, both for the children’s protection and her own. Nor was she was wearing any identification.
The Port Townsend Free Press reports that the Mountain View YMCA has a history of dismissing claims around guest safety. Another family was banned after complaining about child pornography being shared on the premises and other issues of sexual misconduct.
At heart this case is a civil rights issue involving competing rights claims which are not unsolveable. The decision to ban Jaman showed a notable lack of due process. There was no sorting things out, the management of the Y immediately assumed Jaman was guilty and called the police on her. It was an arbitrary misuse of power.
The injustice to Jaman and the ensuing violence spurred international media attention, mainly from the right, there was little to no left wing media coverage. The It Could Happen Here podcast reported this list of “neofascist news sites:” The Post Millenial, The Daily Wire, Fox, The Daily Mail, Breitbart, Newsmax, Inforwars, New York Post, The Federalist and “quote unquote the feminist news site Reduxx.”
I reviewed much of this media as well as independently produced reports. I found them to be mostly accurate. Some reported minor details incorrectly but got the gist of the story correct.
Women, both present and their allies, produced media, did interviews and made the #LetJulieSwim hashtag trend in the United States, Germany and Australia.
Port Townsend joins other locations where Speaker’s Corners are being met with violence, especially in England. As women push back, TRAs with Antifa support are getting increasingly aggressive.
As in Port Townsend, they are not interested in dialogue or compromise, they want submission. Their rage comes from women saying NO.
Lesbians and gays are increasingly distancing themselves from the trans movment. Groups like Gays Against Groomers and the LGB Alliance are being censored on social media and in real life. Many of these are elders who fought for acceptance and are distraught at seeing regression to gender stereotypes. They are upset grooming of children into the “queer” lifestyle as well as exposing them to drag and normalizing kink. They are refusing to be cowed into sexual relationships with the opposite sex. They remember real conversion therapy when they were gaslit about their sexual preferences.
WOMEN FTW
The women speaking at the rally have lived the history of modern feminism, born into the first wave, many of us came up on third or fourth wave. We have seen how far we have come and that is why we are rejecting ignorant policies that have historically increased the potential of harm to us and our children. We are not blind to human nature or the lengths men will go to disguise their intentions when it comes to hurting women or getting their sexual thrills.
In Port Townsend, the women clearly won. The TRAs broke Activism 101 rule—never martyr your opponent—a classic civil rights error. Their hate was visible for the world to see, and to FEEL.
They showed some self awareness of this when conservative men staged a followup Rally for Decency on September 3rd to protest the way Port Townsend treats women. The TRAs were concerned that by being aggressive they would give the Proud Boys a win with footage they could use to “fabricate media coverage portraying leftists and queer people as angry and violent.”
The footage shot on August 15th was primary source and not fabricated, much of it was streamed live, there is way to take it out of context.
Port Townsend made the women who spoke stronger. We did not back down. We held the line, we spoke and we bonded. We showed the world the strength of women.
More than one woman felt the event was spiritual. One spoke to the feeling that as she was fighting, she felt the power of her ancestor’s struggle in her blood.
We were being victimized but we refused to be victims. That is true empowment.
Per the August 18 press release:
“The RevFoxx team, including Amy E. Sousa, Jennifer Thomas and Gabrielle Clark, assure women everywhere that this is just the beginning. Many women, including Julie Jaman, have filed assault complaints, and many are considering civil legal action. Undeterred in their efforts to end the sex-based discrimination that results from gender ideology, the women’s rights group will hold many more free speech events for women in Port Townsend and throughout the USA.”
I have been to a lot of protests, but none have affected me like this one. It inspired me, it motivated me, and it connected me to something global.
I know what a woman really is, and, more importantly, what she is capable of.
While we may not be welcome in Port Townsend or Olympia or Philadelphia or Brighton, we are not going away. We will not go backwards.
This is only the beginning of yet another round in the fight.
I would not bet against us.
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Port Townsend Free Press has been doing coverage with on the ground context.
Interview I did with the Conservative Atheist podcast about the events of the day.
The Commonsense Conservative on Rumble, his account was banned from YouTube as a result of his coverage of Port Townsend, much of that primary source footage has been lost as a result.
My collection of short video clips from August 15 on YouTube.
Benjamin Boyce interview of Julie Jaman and Amy Sousa.
Stream of the press conference on Twitter.
Stream of the press conference on YouTube.
My previous writing on gender ideology:
Candace Mercer is an artist/writer/activist based in Olympia, WA. She writes on homeless response and political violence in the PNW. In 2021, she ran for Olympia City Council. She is currently working on developing a line of feminist art.
