Why the need to cover up ?

As I've already posted, there are multiple reasons why people might choose to wear a face covering.

And how do you propose to enforce that?

I agree - I don’t think face coverings should be allowed at any protest ( Pro Palestine or EDL or pro Israeli.) I think face coverings make people more confident about saying and doing objectionable things . Anonymity releases all sorts of ugliness on line and I don’t think people should disguise their identity/ face in a public place .
An example- I’ve seen young boys tearing around on bikes with dark balaclavas that totally conceal their identity. Nothing to do with a political protest but everything to do a desire to intimidate and behave in aggressive/ illegal ways.
Face covering should definitely be banned. (And if someone’s health is vulnerable they should avoid a crowded protest)

Don't agree. I have no double standards.

Nobody should be wearing face coverings at these protests -if I had my way, I would not allow them anywhere except where he bearer had a signed off ID and medical certificate to produce on demand.

I suspect that, if the same post had been written by a non-Muslim/non-pro-ceasefire poster, about a pro-ceasefire individual trying to follow them and trying to intimidate them, the first thing someone wrote in response would have been an expression of support and empathy. Not asking what the person being followed did, or saying how that proves people in the poster's situation should be prevented from wearing things to make identifying them less easy.

This is an example of the double standards people employ when they hear experiences from certain groups.

I've been followed by men in masks before. I've been followed by men out of masks before. They're the same - they're cowards and bullies. The point is that, if these sorts of people are actively trying to identify innocent people who are campaigning for human rights and peace, and then use that information to engage in violence and intimidation against those innocent people and their families, is it really so hard to see why some people might want to wear a face covering for privacy reasons?

Did you call the police?

And I am sure you would have been terrified if he had been wearing a mask.

Your anecdote proves my point.

Last month, for example, a lovely pro-IDF gentleman tried to follow me to my car after an event. I suspect the bulge in his trousers was a weapon, rather than him being pleased to see me.

If you genuinely believe that about the UK, you live a much more sheltered life than I do.

I live in the UK. I have faced those things here, in the UK.

It's not a nice thing to think happens in the country where we live, but it's reality.

Having been to many political and humanitarian events around the country, I have encountered very little actual illegality among others attending. The claims of 'many' people holding illegal views are untrue.

And wanting to prevent disabled people or people with health conditions from expressing their views is discrimination. Wearing face coverings can be considered a reasonable adjustment to enable people to exercise their rights.

@Hugosmaid what the hell do you not understand? If I thought it was fake I wouldn't have apologised. Just bloody drop it. What is your problem? I've admitted in a public forum I was mistaken.

Somebody said something incorrect. They realised what they said was incorrect. They apologised and retracted their initial comment.

Yes, and I agree. Of course the suffering and murder of women and children in war (not just this one) should be a priority. It's a subject only given token acknowledgement in a world where war is constructed by men, almost entirely for men.

I was actually pointing out that women and children, along with minority and vulnerable groups, have been subjected to violence and a complete absence of representation or justice for years under Hamas.

Your suggestion that I was concerned about a lack of gay pride parades in Gaza was incredibly demeaning and insulting.

We live in the UK. We do live in a world where violence, harassment and danger do not occur to their families if they express legitimate views on politics and human rights.

Unfortunately, many in the Pro Palestinian marches are expressing illegal views. It is why they should not wear face coverings. The marches are a cover for a minority of people perpetuating racial hatred.

So it's a no to face coverings from me in this context - even for health reasons. Simply do not go if your health is up to it.

You might have apologised but you clearly think it was fake otherwise you wouldn’t have said it 🤯

@ginasevern I'm not sure where you got 'outrage' from tbh, that seems a little exaggerated. I was giving my opinion that if you omit the biggest threat women and girls in Gaza have ever faced then it comes across as whataboutery. You can't deny that that is a far more pressing issue, that is what is focused in lots of feminists minds right now, helping the women and girls who are being disproportionately and cruely affected by Israels bombardment. Like I said when this is over I'm sure the focus may change, most people don't expect Hamas to be in power then but right now stopping the immediate, horrific suffering of women and girls in Gaza takes priority for most.

I don't know why you feel the need to talk about gay pride parades. You obviously didn't read my post properly or you have a tendency to reduce serious subjects to triviality for your own purposes.

I'm talking about the murder, torture and persecution of LGBTQ people in Gaza under Hamas rule.

I'm also talking about legalised violence against women and girls. There is no law in Gaza that prohibits violence of any kind, including rape, within the family and whilst Hamas are in power there never will be.

I finished my post by saying that Palestine should be free. I also said that ultimately it needs to be free from Hamas. A sentiment shared by many Palestinians. Unless you agree with Hamas' strict interpretation of Sharia law and see it as a force for good then I don't know why my words have outraged you so much.

@ it wasn't half arsed at all. As soon as I posted it I thought I'd better make sure, so I researched again. I didn't apologise pages after. So it was genuine.

It would be nice to live in a world where people weren't at risk of violence, harassment and danger to their families if they express legitimate views on politics and human rights.

Once EDL thugs, pro-IDF guys and the like stop threatening people's families and trying to follow people home while carrying weapons, maybe then there would be more grounds to say people should not wear face coverings.

People with health reasons for wearing face coverings also have every right to attend political and other protest/demonstration events.

@quantumbutterfly thanks I've reported my post. Apologies @Scirocco .

I meant to @BibiSuzanne

Exactly the same is true of people who support Israel - honestly this is laughable now.

I think it was Bibi not scirroco.tbf

I completely condemn the actions of Israel against women and children in Gaza but that comment disgusts me.
I know you withdrew it later but to even consider that being true is absolutely awful and a half arsed apology later does not make it ok.

To me, if you are going to participate in a controversial (and they are) marches, then you should expect that you will be monitored and should not be wearing a face covering.

If you don't like that, then don't participate. We need to be able to identify everybody so everybody can be safe. CCTV everywhere now and oh boy, we do need it. It is at football grounds, stores, nearly every street.

If you are worried about infection, don't participate, worried about being identified, don't participate, worried about being on record, don't participate.

Simple.