In the heart of London, a powerful and emotional moment unfolded when a group of women’s rights activists gathered in Hyde Park—not for a music festival or a summer stroll, but to deliver a bold, controversial message: “Free your face.”
The protest, organized by the Let Women Speak (LWS) movement, turned heads as participants made a dramatic statement against the use of veils and face coverings by tearing them off in unison.
Protesters March in Black Veils to Make a Statement
Around 75 women dressed in all-black robes and niqab-style face veils walked together through Hyde Park.
On their veils were printed words that read “Free Your Face,” and they carried placards with phrases like “Free Speech for Women.”
Some held black balloons that read “Women: Adult Female,” underscoring the group’s identity-centered messaging.
Speaker’s Corner Turns into a Stage for Unfiltered Voices
The women made their way to Speaker’s Corner, the iconic London site known for public speeches and lively debates.
There, Kellie-Jay Keen—also known as Posie Parker—stepped onto a small white ladder to address the crowd.
She made it clear this protest was meant to highlight the restrictions faced by women in certain countries, particularly in the Middle East, where removing a veil in public could come with serious consequences.
As she spoke, the group dramatically removed their veils together.
The moment was met with roaring cheers, claps, and whistles from supporters, all echoing the chant: “Free your face!”
A Show of Solidarity for Women Around the World
Keen, who leads both the #LetWomenSpeak movement and the Party of Women, said the demonstration was about standing with women who are forced to wear veils due to cultural or family pressure.
“This is for those who are made to cover themselves because their fathers, brothers, or husbands are too weak to face a woman’s freedom,” she said.
The group regularly hosts similar events around the UK, allowing women to speak out on gender issues and rights.
Their views are often labeled “gender-critical,” and they campaign fiercely against policies that allow men into female-only spaces.
One Protestor Heckles—But the Crowd Stands Firm
The event didn’t go uninterrupted. One person in the crowd shouted, “Women should be at home!”
But Keen kept her composure.
She went on to recount stories she’d recently received from women across the Middle East—women who had been veiled since the age of 12 and said they had never felt the sun on their faces.
Keen challenged the logic of controlling women through clothing: “If a man can’t handle seeing a woman’s face, maybe he should be the one wearing a mask.”
Passion, Pain, and a Plea for Freedom
As other women took the stage, the tone turned even more emotional.
One speaker fought back tears as she emphasized that any choice must truly be free: “You can choose, but if you’re forced—it’s not a real choice.”
Another speaker, wearing a necklace that spelled out “WOMEN,” pleaded with the audience: “Please, for the sake of your sisters, choose freedom.”
Inspiration from an Unplanned Encounter
Keen revealed that today’s protest was sparked by an offhand comment she made weeks ago to two veiled women at Speaker’s Corner.
“I just said, ‘Free your faces, ladies. Liberate yourselves.’”
That moment, captured on video, spread rapidly online—reportedly seen 24 million times—and led to a flood of messages from women who resonated deeply with her words.
Some of those women confessed they hadn’t felt sunlight on their skin in years or weren’t even allowed in their own gardens.
For them, a trip to a café was the highlight of freedom.
Pushing Forward Despite Backlash
Despite criticism, Keen is undeterred. She says her mission is to stop women from living “imprisoned behind fabric.”
While some men at Speaker’s Corner tried to shout over the women or intimidate them, Keen said she came prepared.
“Some men just can’t stand women speaking. But that’s exactly why we must keep speaking.”
She also voiced her desire for legal changes: “In cities like London, Birmingham, and Bradford, we’re seeing more women in Niqab.
I think we need to question this as a country—and yes, I’d like to see face coverings banned.”
Fierce Opposition and Heated Words at Previous Events
This isn’t the first time Keen and her group have faced fierce opposition.
At a 2023 event in Northumberland, LWS members were drowned out by counter-protestors shouting, “Trans women are women!”
Some labeled Keen a fascist and tried to derail the event by blowing whistles and yelling insults.
Keen shrugged it off.
“We’re just ordinary women trying to talk about our rights.
Those protestors? They’re from privileged backgrounds.
Most of us have bills to pay and no elite support backing us.”
Controversy Follows Keen Across Political Lines
Keen’s presence has stirred political backlash too.
Last year, a Conservative debate in north London was canceled after Labour party activists pressured the venue, citing her past events’ association with far-right attendees—including a controversial rally in Australia where Nazi salutes were performed by outsiders.
Keen insists they were neither invited nor welcome.
Labour activists accused her of spreading “transphobic” messages and creating hostile environments, but Keen continues to maintain that her mission is about standing up for women and reclaiming their space.
What’s Next for the Movement?
Keen says she’s not slowing down. If anything, the global response has only strengthened her resolve.
“This isn’t about hatred—it’s about liberation,” she said.
“When women speak freely, others take notice.
And when we say, ‘Free your face,’ we’re asking the world to listen to the stories of women who haven’t had that choice.”
As the event wrapped up in Hyde Park, one message rang louder than any other: for women around the world—liberation begins with visibility.