200 protest against extreme male-rights group as 'pro-rape' event cancelled in Shrewsbury

The gathering was triggered by the story that a group of men who support the extreme views of American Daryush 'Roosh' Valizadeh were planning to hold a meeting in Shrewsbury.

Valizadeh, also known as Roosh V, is known for his anti-female views, which go as far as suggesting the US government should legalise rape if it is committed on private property.

In 2012 he set-up the website 'Return of Kings' as a platform for his views and recently asked his supporters to meet up in cities around the world at 8pm on February 6.

It was in reaction to one such meeting proposed for Shrewsbury that a protest event against Valizadeh and his followers was organised.

The protest event was organised by two women and saw over 200 people meet up behind the Theatre Severn at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Andrew Fielden, 51, was one of the people who took part in the meeting and said that it was triumph for common sense.

He said: "I was involved because I wanted to show that these extreme views cannot be accepted, it was all about the community standing up for what is right.

"There were over 200 people who went to the meeting, but thousands more also showed their support online.

"After we had gathered, everyone walked onto the Bridge of Light and there were so many people there that we filled one side of the bridge.

"Between 8pm and 8.30pm we held the official protest, which was a statement of solidarity and then people dispersed."

Andrew, from Ellesmere Road in Shrewsbury, said that what had begun as a protest against the extreme views of Valizadeh and his followers had shown a lot more.

He said: "What the meeting showed was the people of Shrewsbury's support for equality, respect and consent.

"There was such a positive feeling at the meeting, the mood was supportive and it showed how motivated the community can be against views like those advocated by Roosh V.

"I think the message put across is that people are prepared to stand up in the face of an extreme and violent mentality; it was about standing up for the social fabric we are all a part of."

Following a world-wide reaction against his views, Valizadeh put out a message urging his supporters not to hold meetings because of the danger such gatherings may put them in.