Man who violently beat trailblazing LGBT+ activist at a far-right rally faces charges
Izzy Kamikaze was left beaten and bloodied after she was assaulted at a far-right, anti-mask protest in Dublin (Twitter)
A man in his 20s has been charged with assault after he was accused of violently attacking trailblazing LGBT+ activist Izzy Kamikaze at a far-right rally in Dublin.
The man, named as Michael Quinn, was arrested on Thursday (October 22) in County Louth, Ireland, on suspicion of assault after he allegedly hit Kamikaze over the head with a large wooden pole wrapped in an Irish flag on September 12.
Kamikaze, who was taking part in a counter-protest against a far-right rally when the attack occurred, sustained injuries to her head and was treated in a Dublin hospital after the incident.
Quinn appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday (October 23) following his arrest on Thursday, according to The Irish Examiner.
The judge heard that Quinn allegedly “approached and struck the injured party on the head with a large plank of wood which had a Tricolour attached to it, resulting in injuries to the head.”
The case was deemed too serious to be dealt with at district court level and was referred to a higher court.
Shocking video footage showed LGBT+ activist Izzy Kamikaze being hit over the head with a wooden pole.
Video footage of the attack on Kamikaze quickly went viral after it occurred in September.
Kamikaze, a queer activist who has spent decades fighting for LGBT+ rights in Ireland, had been taking part in a counter-protest against an anti-mask and anti-lockdown protest in Dublin when she was approached by the attacker.
The disturbing incident was captured in video footage recorded by a counter protester. In the video, a group of men can be seen approaching Kamikaze outside Leinster House, with one carrying a long wooden pole with an Irish flag wrapped around it.
The group can then be seen charging at Kamikaze and other counter protesters. The video shows Kamikaze falling to the ground, with later photos showing the activist covered in blood.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Kamikaze said she saw “a wall” of protesters approaching her at the demonstration.
“I was looking around for a knife. I folded my arms to show I wasn’t a threat,” she said.
After a protester pushed Kamikaze’s friend, she looked slightly to the left to make sure they were safe. When she looked to her side, she was hit with the wooden pole.
“I didn’t see who hit me. I turned slightly and then I was on the ground,” she said.
