In a recent development in New Zealand, a trans woman who threw tomato juice over anti-trans activist Posie Parker, also known as Kellie-Jay Keen, will now face trial as her request to have charges dropped has been rejected. The incident occurred during Parker’s controversial anti-trans Let Women Speak tour across Australia and New Zealand. The trans protestor, Eli Rubashkyn, poured tomato juice over Parker as a form of protest, expressing the desire to make the activist “know that her words are blood.”
Following the incident, Rubashkyn claimed on social media that she had been targeted by “Nazis” in two separate attempts on her life. However, on October 26th, Judge Claire Ryan ruled against Rubashkyn’s lawyer’s application to dismiss the two assault charges against her. Eliana Golberstein, the 35-year-old trans protestor, will now have to face trial on the two assault charges.
Judge Ryan emphasized that her role was not to take a political stance but to uphold the law. She pointed out that Rubashkyn had openly admitted to pouring tomato juice on Parker during media interviews. One of the charges is related to Parker, the alleged victim, while the other is for assaulting another person who was standing next to Parker and also got doused in juice during the incident.
Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine of $4,000 (approximately £2,000). While a trial date is yet to be set, the matter will be revisited on February 26th for a trial call-over, which will address procedural issues and ensure readiness for the trial proceedings. This case highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the rights and activism of transgender individuals and their opponents.