Riots against lockdown in Europe

[Downriver]

The scenes of young people burning down a COVID testing facility in the Netherlands and burning the Danish PM at a stake in protest against lockdown have really shaken me. Would it happen here? Who is organising this? Fascists? Sometimes I read comments against lockdown on here and I think such a mood is being primed.

[secretllama]

This was obviously going to start happening. You just can't lock people down for the best part of a year without backlash. Not condoning the actions but come on, I'm just shocked there isn't more tbh.

Also, kind of goes against the MN narrative that everyone else in the world is just obediently getting on with it and only British people are selfish entitled rule breakers.

[carlaCox]

burning the Danish PM at a stake in protest

Probably should clarify you mean burning a picture of the Danish PM at the stake! I read this and thought "what?!?!".

[Shehz21]

Just here to echo secrellama. Quite surprised that compliance is still so high a year after the govt keeps cocking up and we have to pay for the price of that by being in lockdown 3.

Definitely don't condone these actions and wouldn't personally take part in it but understand the sentiment. Heard about riots in Romania as well so definitely the narrative of 'em selfish brits' is OTT.

[Downriver]

Gawd yeah, I missed out the word effigy!

[carlaCox]

In all seriousness though, I don't know why fascists would be organising this, they tend to be quite supportive of state controls. I think people are fed up of being held under house arrest for the best part of a year. People have lost their jobs, their homes, they've had the joy sucked out of life, it's not surprising really.

[PhilCornwall1]

Would it happen here?

There were riots here over the Poll Tax years ago.

If people took it in their heads to riot, then yep, of course it could happen.

[psychomath]

Every country has its share of crazy people - we also had that wave of people last year setting 5G masts on fire and abusing maintenance workers. In a situation where a large proportion of the population is depressed and/or angry, it's not really surprising if a few act on it in extreme ways.

[frozendaisy]

Perhaps there is less financial support in the Netherlands. Do you know what the financial support is there?

Yes it might happen here but the UK has much more CCTV, if you get a criminal record your life can be utterly screwed.

And it won't change anything.

[formerbabe]

I'm surprised there isn't more of this and that people are so compliant to be honest

[MrsMercedes]

There were riots more recent than poll tax

I remember looting being on tv

[sunlightbuttons]

Probably should clarify you mean burning a picture of the Danish PM at the stake! I read this and thought "what?!?!".

Probably shouldn't have but this made me laugh so much

Also, kind of goes against the MN narrative that everyone else in the world is just obediently getting on with it and only British people are selfish entitled rule breakers.

Agree with this. Obviously I'm not glad it's happening but it's still refreshing from that point of view.

[TheQueef]

It's too cold for any civil disobedience in the UK.
We only like sunny riots.

[TheKeatingFive]

Would it happen here?

Potentially of course it would.

Do you think locking people down for months at a time and preventing them from seeing family and friends is something that people will put up with indefinitely?

A lot of people are reaching their limits about now.

[SeldomFollowedIt]

What @TheQueef said.

It’s too cold.

[EatingAllTheCookies]

Yes It could happen and I'm surprised it hasn't tbh.
And I wouldn't be surprised if now people Have seen it happen elsewhere so do so here.
Peoole are fed up with being locked up, with rules that half the time make fuck all sense. Rules that have too much leniency to be able to be twisted for individual needs.
People are pissed off and the majority of what I read and witness the compliancy is reducing by the day.

[Downriver]

UK tends to have riots in the Summer, historically.
But it is the fact it is young people that interests me. It is not those under massive stress of wfh and homeschooling etc. I just want to know the demographic, the motives, whether the Q people have got into their heads.

[PhilCornwall1]

@MrsMercedes

There were riots more recent than poll tax

I remember looting being on tv

There were, but were they in protest to what the government were imposing?

I'd Google UK riots on my laptop, but I'm connected to the work VPN and it could prove interesting if I did.

[Katie517]

To be honest people are getting fed up. They are losing everything they have ever worked for and young people feel like they are having their futures stolen. So it wouldn’t surprise or shock me if we had similar here. Anyone who dares to question lockdown is labeled as a fascist or a covid denier so there is very little people can do to air their frustration aside from protest.

I do think there is a huge disconnect from those sitting comfortable in their big houses with outdoor space and a stable income or furlough enjoying zoom quizzes and baking and those who are struggling to keep businesses afloat, live in poverty or suffering from mental health issues caused by isolation.

Just the fact that you were surprised by people protesting and asked if they were fascists proves my point!

[trulydelicious]

@Downriver

Who is organising this? Fascists

The Left. They want to take over

[NoMoreMrNiceGaius]

The "protests"/glorified hooligans here in Netherlands are because of the evening curfew which just went into effect on Saturday. I falsely assumed it was just bored teenagers until I saw the extent of damage in 15 different cities. Hospitals attacked, police and police cars and even police horses attacked with fireworks/rocks, cars on fire, glass everywhere, everything broken. The most heart breaking part for me to see was people who showed up with their children to enjoy the spectacle.

I have personally been in the middle of (not participating, just trying to pass through) horrible riots in Turkey and never in a million years would have expected to have a similar experience here in "civilized" Europe/Netherlands. My dutch husband and others are also in total shock that this could happen here. So yea, it could definitely happen in the UK too, but I hope it doesn't.

[Hellothere19999]

Lol at it being too cold... I never thought of that. Perhaps that is it, maybe it’s too early into this lockdown for unrest but also, a lot of young people who protest are university students and a lot of university students actually care about the NHS so perhaps wouldn’t riot/ protest so readily knowing the state the NHS is currently in.

[Downriver]

Yes, but burning down a COVID testing centre? That is just psychotic, no.

And no way is this the Left, not the Left I know. Give me some proof.

[Spiratedaway]

It is going to happen when you have lost your business etc and have nothing left you either stand up or people are killing themselves

[trulydelicious]

@Downriver

Would it happen here

No. They would be prosecuted

[TheKeatingFive]

I don't think these kind of protests will divide neatly across politically lines.

Elements within left leaning and right leaning camps have had enough, for various reasons.