to think that just because you say something about Israel and Gaza does not mean that you should be threatened with arrest under the terrorism act?

Do you need help with how to hide the thread?

Oh ok, gotcha. You don’t understand what compelled speech means. 👍

Two wrongs doesn't make a right. October 7th attacks were horrible crimes too. One set of horrible actions (October 7th) doesn't justify another set of horrible actions (what Israel has done since). Two wrongs doesn't make a right.

And that's without even considering the proportionality of the response. I believe the IDF have killed over 70,000 people in Gaza now, and that over half are women and children.

And now they're starving those who are left, and killing desperate, hungry people at aid stations

Is the person in that Guardian pic a man?

OP I agree with you in general, I’m not a lawyer and I think there is likely a nuanced difference legally between happening to have some views in common with a proscribed organisation and saying that you support eg. Palestine Action specifically. So I think the police have slightly misunderstood and are in the wrong here. It’s actually clear from the video that they’re slightly unsure of their footing on this themselves, only committing themselves to saying she “might” be committing an offence.

I do agree it feels slightly Orwellian/dystopian/draconian and frightening for the police to be essentially accusing people of “thought crimes” (and like a pp I would love to know why the police have the time for this and aren’t busy tackling much more pressing and more criminal behaviour elsewhere). It is important for us to maintain freedom of speech and freedom of protest, no matter which “side” of this conflict you are on.

Having said that, I will also say that in reality, she was NOT arrested and it was very clear that the police actually just wanted to move her on in the full knowledge that she’d likely just go elsewhere locally with her protest, rather than come down hard with the full force of the law.

I’m also noticing what another pp said about eg. Kneecap and Bob Vylan etc. (and even all the crowds chanting “from the river to the sea” etc) basically being allowed to say much more inflammatory things that more fairly come under this offence, with no real consequences or comeback it seems.

I will also say that I am N Irish and grew up there during the Troubles. I can tell you that at that time someone at a major roundabout draped in an Irish flag let’s say instead of a keffiyeh, and holding up a sign saying “I believe in a united Ireland” or similar would 100 percent have been assumed not only by police but by absolutely everybody passing to be an IRA supporter. And I can’t imagine the police would have left them alone either. And it would likely have stirred up further trouble from the other side. So I do think when a conflict is active, although we do have free speech, we should be careful how we use it basically.

Keyboard warrior for posting on Mumsnet? Welcome to the club, then. The morally superior advocates are those who are condescending Gazans. The Thunberg selfie brigade.

The person protesting is upset about not being able to say free Gaza - but I strongly suspect that he (and many of the people on the thread) supports people not being able to say that he’s a man and use he.

compelling speech both ways

i think people should be able to say both
(but i also think there are some slogans that can become so linked to terrorist orgs that they are supporting them even if not actually saying that)

I haven't seen any evidence that she's a man but apparently you're an expert. Everyone has a talent.

What is ‘compelled speech’ with regard to Israel and Gaza?

You think you are morally superior because you are a keyboard warrior instead?

This isn't specifically to you, do you see the irony in your criticism?

It’s making the point ability the hypocrisy of the left though isn’t it - including this protestor

You're the one spitting feathers love.

Not looks. Making a point that it seems more likely a man than a woman.

and yet in the newspaper article on thIs thread everyone is saying she. Reflecting compelled speech - which is but another side of the coin of what is being criticised

The usual ofcourse.

Thought you were hiding the thread. Funny how everyone, without exception, that announces their departure, never, ever, actually leaves when they say they’re going to.

Put your pearls down love.

That it’s completely irrelevant to the subject matter, but do keep trying to deflect. It’s entertaining, if nothing else.

You're correct. I don't join in with the tiktok fashion of chanting slogans I'm brainwashed into chanting. I've got far more about me than that. 👍

I thought so. Imagine sniggering about someone's looks and saying they should enter a war zone.