Why the need to cover up ?

I have listened to all the views but in my view the cons massively outweigh any arguments for.

“The only reason I can think of - if not committing a crime, is that supporting Palestine is considered subversive or a threat to the mask wearer.”
I find this idea unconvincing for a number of reasons.

1. We have been told several times that the marches are very peaceful and law abiding and I have not heard anyone mention threats to marchers ( apart from threats to the Iranian protester carrying anti Hamas placards and his face was (rightly) uncovered)
2. There are children and old people on the March with uncovered faces. I don’t understand why strong, fit young people therefore feel so vulnerable they must cover their face .
3. If there is such an issue ( regarding for example working at a pro Israeli company and a fear of discrimination for their views ) The protester should either find other ways to support Palestine or consider finding employment that aligns with their values.

Thank you @Scirocco
Is it not worrying that people need to be given this advice to exercise their right to protest?

@Polka83 we have a range of safety advice for people, including advice about safe travel to and from events. That includes people needing to consider face coverings, changes of clothing, parking cars elsewhere and using shared taxi rides to get to venues, route planning to identify 'safe' shops etc in which to seek help if targeted, not driving straight home and keeping an eye out for anyone following... And these aren't people participating in violence, just ordinary people wanting to exercise their legitimate rights to protest, fundraise or otherwise campaign.

But some people feel they have to wear masks- despite the connotations of masks that you have noted.

The only reason I can think of - if not committing a crime, is that supporting Palestine is considered subversive or a threat to the mask wearer.

“As long as people aren’t committing crimes- I agree that they should not have to wear masks.”

No one HAS to wear masks so I’m not sure this means what you intended.

I disagree with any form of face covering during public protests for all the reasons I gave above.
I think they should be banned and anyone covering their face should not be allowed to March. ( all marches/ protests/ rallies whatever the cause)

@NecessaryNC24

As long as people aren’t committing crimes- I agree that they should not have to wear masks.

I can appreciate for some it’s sinister to see people wear masks, but what I find interesting is that some people are worried that supporting the Palestinian cause is considered subversive or threatening to their safety.

If you are worried about people wearing masks - why do you think they have to hide their faces if not committing a crime?

I'm surprised anyone who has studied political history would need a thread on a forum to give them examples of why people engaging in protests or other forns of activism might consider there to be a need to protect their identities.

It suggests to me that, like many threads, this was not started in good faith, but instead was started, using decidedly non-neutral language, to further the othering and negativity towards people objecting to ongoing violence and the humanitarian disaster in Palestine.

You are definitely not neutral. And where did you study 'the complexities of the Middle East'?
And I am not Muslim either, I'm a Christian Palestinian who wants a secular Palestinian state. So there you go.
I am so bloody angry that Israel originally brought Hamas to power to rival the PA. But I also understand that Hamas is made up of men who are orphans, who, as children, have seen the most gruesome acts against them under occupation. As a teacher I have seen what trauma does to children. Coupled with the world denying the wrongs done to us and turning a blind eye to all the atrocities since; I understand but DO NOT condone Hamas.

Except your answers are in absolutes.

@NecessaryNC24
I work in the field of cognitive psychology and have done extensive research in integrative complexity. Those who have low IC tend to see conflicts as black and white, good vs evil.
I wonder if you might be able to hold two seemingly conflicting items of information in your head at the same time.

Firstly, that there is a need to protest, that the dehumanisation of the Palestinian people and charges of war crimes and ethnic cleansing have merit. That there is a horrific situation unfolding in Rafah as we speak.

Secondly, there is a need to protest, be sad and incensed at the events of October the 7th. That the single most large killing of Jews since the holocaust should be acknowledged by the international community.

Well they definitely create a lot of anxiety for me. I associate face coverings with wrong doing . ( eg balaclavas were used by paramilitaries/ terrorists in Ireland and are used by bank robbers / muggers etc today)
I also associate face coverings with far right protesters and football hooligan types.

I don’t think I’m unusual in feeling very uncomfortable around a large group of people with covered faces while my face is uncovered.

(USA passed laws against face coverings at one stage because of the activities of the KKK so face covering has a long and disreputable history )

Were the pro - Palestinian group carrying any illegal signs that were pro-Hamas?

Yes - it is all about context

I suppose another factor that influences how people perceive face coverings may be culture and/or experience of face coverings.

Having spent years working and living in settings in which face coverings can be entirely normal or understandable or professionally necessary, someone covering their face doesn't automatically generate feelings of apprehension or discomfort for me.

I also understand why people might feel it is safer for them to wear a face covering. But their feelings of vulnerability might lead them to protective measures that increase the tension.
Once one group wears face coverings it increases other people’s feelings of vulnerability… and so it spirals and escalates . In the end it adds to an atmosphere of suspicion and fear and will benefit no one.

This, in a nutshell

If they're so virtuous and right and in the majority, why cover their faces

Your not agreeing with someone's reason doesn't mean it isn't their reason for doing it. The thread asked why people might want to wear a face covering. Those are some reasons why.

@Limesodaagain the police can require people to remove face coverings. It would be nice to be able to not have to worry about such things, but while there are very real threats to the safety of campaigners, protesters and their families, I understand why people might feel it is safer for them to wear a face covering.

To me, those reasons are invalid.

If you feel vulnerable to a right wing thug and you feel the need to cover up to hide your identity, then don't go there. Just stay safe. People feel intimidated of people wearing face coverings as they cannot see their face, they cannot be identified and it look sinister and the wearers know it. Yes women too.

By the way, there are lots of left wing thugs too who hate Jewish people, yet you don't see Jewish people wearing them at protests. Because their protests are much more peaceful protests.

Strongly disagree with some of the arguments here.
I don’t think anyone should be able to hide their identity. I understand the reasons given but once people are allowed to hide their identity it creates an environment that is much more sinister and threatening and potentially gives malicious people opportunities to commit crime without detection. I definitely don’t support face coverings.
The argument that some feel so threatened that they have to cover their face reminds me of the arguments young people give - about needing to carry knives for protection . An increase in face covering ( like an increase in knife carrying) makes us ALL more vulnerable.

Have you not read people's posts? It doesn't matter if you are proud of your cause or not, you may be targeted for being pro Palestinian. In Australia a man tried to bomb someone's house because they had a Palestinian flag, in the US teenagers were shot because they were wearing keffiyeh. Are you saying people should be willing to die for the cause, put their families in danger?

We get it. You don't like pro Palestinian protesters. People are well aware that there is a section of society that demonise people who support the Palestinian people, it's sad that it is that way but unfortunately the media(and the British government) have whipped up quite the mob and that has left some people feeling vulnerable. You clearly aren't going to change your mind because depiste people answering repeatedly you have chosen to ignore them so I'm not sure why you even started this thread except perhaps to give people the chance to have a go at people who support Palestinians again. This type of thing shows exactly why some people may not want their name or face associated with their activism. Some people will not listen and will just demonise and perhaps endanger them or their livlihood because they don't like their cause.

Well, maybe some of the factors that contribute to people's decisions weighed differently for people in different situations.

For example, I pose far less of a risk to a far-right thug than they do to me. I would have more at risk if they were to identify and target me. That might influence my decision-making about attendance and about what to wear, etc.