I am not an uncritical supporter of the police and I think part of what has happened is the need to create a public perception. ie last summer protest were not in contravention of the then regulations. Now they are. They have been fining people. If they let this go ahead legitimately and not find anyone then they will be accused of double standards.
But as someone pointed out on what was a really FEMINIST discussion on any answers the difference is that the organisers (all women) are trying to obey the rules.
Whereas jubilant (predominantly male) football supporters were out in their thousands last weekend and I dont think anyone got fined.
So the irony is, is that if we have all not made public our intentions, somehow communicated secretly (easy if you still have an old landline, remember telephone trees) women could have spontaneously emerged at the same time to show their anger and sorrow.
I think that is far more relevant than any ideas of conspiracies and cult groups and supposed loss of freedoms.
In this case I dont wont the organisers to be landed with £10,000 fines because they got it together and try and organise something.
And it is also great that they have asked that as well as a doorstep vigil at 9:30pm tonight they have launched a fund raise for women's groups.
So horrible as this situation is, from the radio call in and the comments on facebook, I feel that feminist perceptions are far wider than I had previously thought.
It is just that both main stream and social media with their male dominant voices make us think different.
So I've bought some night lights (now known as tea lights - why?) and will stand on my doorstep tonight.