University threatened with legal action after protest at academic's talk

University threatened with legal action after protest at academic's talk A leading academic, who led a recent government review into sex and gender data collection has threatened legal action against the University of Bristol, claiming it failed to protect her freedom of speech. Prof Alice Sullivan is at the centre of a free speech row with the University of Bristol Prof Alice Sullivan has also written to the university regulator, the Office for Students, after a talk she gave at the university was disrupted by a trans rights protest. Universities have a legal duty to uphold the right to free speech, while balancing that with the right to protest by those who object. The University of Bristol rejected her claims and said the talk went ahead safely - despite "unacceptable disruption" - in line with its "strong commitment to upholding free speech". Universities have a longstanding legal duty to protect the rights of staff, students and visiting speakers to express views which others might find offensive. That has come into sharper focus with a new freedom of speech law in higher education, which came into force in August in England. The University of Bristol said every action it had taken was in support of free speech. Prof Sullivan's review for the government, published in March, recommended that data on biological sex and gender identity should be recorded as distinct categories. She said she was first invited to speak about her work by an academic at the University of Bristol in July 2024, and agreed to an event that autumn. In a new letter to the university, which warns she is willing to bring a legal challenge, Prof Sullivan said the university had first suggested the event was held online rather than in person. When asked by the BBC why she had rejected that offer, Prof Sullivan said she did not realise what the scale of potential protests would be, but accepted that some people might have strongly opposing views on gender identity and had the right to express them. "Everyone has a right to peaceful protest, but that must never amount to a heckler's veto, which means shutting down other people's right to speak," she said. "This isn't just about my rights as a visiting speaker, this is about the rights of the university community to hold discussions and to have people come and listen." After further delay, the event was scheduled for 22 October 2025. As Prof Sullivan arrived, some attendees filmed the protest on their phones at the front of the building. Videos - seen and verified by the BBC - show some of the protesters making rude gestures as others held signs. Prof Sullivan told the BBC it was like a "zombie apocalypse" as some protesters pressed up against the window with placards and loudhailers. The fire alarm was set off more than once, disrupting the talk, until security staff advised they move to a higher floor. As she left after the event, Prof Sullivan said she...

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