Harry Potter Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on targeted by protesters

A group of trans rights activists staged a protest outside the Harry Potter-themed Oxford Street Christmas lights switch-on.On Monday, November 9, the popular shopping street was transformed into a festive winter wonderland with specially created illuminated designs inspired by JK Rowling’s series.Hundreds of spectators waited to catch a glimpse of the installation, which is in partnership with the upcoming HBO series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.A protester waving a trans flagThe StandardSpeaking to The Standard, protester West said: “ Harry Potter has no space in public life anymore. People should not support it, and they should not be allowed to co-opt our, one of our main streets in London at Christmas of all times. “People don't understand that there's no ethical way to consume Harry Potter because J.K. Rowling takes the money that gets spent on Harry Potter and she pours it into the erasure of trans folk.”“ Christmas should be for everyone. It should be for trans kids. It should be for cis kids. And this is not okay, and that's why we're here.”The Standard“Our mayor has said that London is for everyone, and currently it's not for trans people. We have to walk down the streets and see this abomination. We have to see it spat in our faces that a fictional character matters more than our rights.”“Harry Potter lights in one of the busiest streets of London will not make trans people feel Christmassy, welcome, or safe,” the petition launched by the not-for-profit campaign organisation Good Law Project (GLP) reads.Read MoreThe mayor’s office said it was not responsible for organising the Oxford Street Christmas lights, which are arranged by the New West End Company.Protestors outside the franchise's new store on Oxford Street in central London on November 4AFP/GettyThe protesters encouraged people not to engage with the franchise or Rowling in any way.Rowling has faced controversy in recent years due to her critical views on self-declared gender identity, which she has called “anti-science”. However, she has denied being transphobic, stating that she respects “every trans person’s right to live any way that feels authentic and comfortable to them”.Her outspoken views have divided fans of the franchise and sparked a recent wave of protests and boycotts by trans rights activists targeting Harry Potter-themed events and locations.JK Rowling has faced controversy in recent years over her views on gender issuesPA ArchiveIt comes after the new HBO Harry Potter series, which JK Rowling is an executive producer on, based on the films has become shrouded in controversy.Actors cast in the show have distanced themselves from her views, including John Lithgow who plays Dumbledore, and Nick Frost, who is cast as Hagrid. Meanwhile cast members have received backlash and sometimes death threats over their involvement.The West End Company were contatced for comment.