Arrested protesting for Extinction Rebellion. AMA

[Pinktable11]

32 year old woman, separated, one child, healthcare professional .

I've read the posts about XR on here over the last week

Happy to answer anything, but do keep in mind if I'm arrested again today I may well be out of touch for 24+ hours, and longer if my phone is impounded 😁

@Bellagonna

Did you need a wee in the 4 hours you were in the police van?

Why are your protests reactive rather than proactive? Why not lobby for better cycling routes or hydrogen powered buses rather than telling people (who are often less priviliged than you) what NOT to do?

I wonder if all the police vans diverted to this nonsense used renewable energy? Doubt it. I’ll bet money on that days protest causing a surge in energy use.

That's very sad. Had it been known at the time, he would have been escorted through

That's bullshit. Literally EVERYONE you hold up has a reason for going where they're going. Visiting a loved one in hospital, going to work, going to an appointment - who are you to say which reasons for travelling is acceptable and which aren't? You don't know what damage you cause to people's lives and you don't care.

It's strange to jump on a cause like this and think you're being a rebel and that the kind of collateral damage talked about above is justified because you're the only ones who care -- when literally every time I turn on the tv or radio, I get messages about saving the planet, climate change, recycling etc etc. Your cause is literally mainstream government policy. Do you not ever think you could put your time to more productive use?

That's very sad. Had it been known at the time, he would have been escorted through

Sad? It’s sad if you are late for a date, it’s sad if you can’t wave off a friend going on a world trip. Not being able to be with your wife when she dies, so that she dies alone, is absolutely fucking disgusting. ER should be totally ashamed of themselves. They claim to be saving the planet for the people living on it, and seem not to give a shit about the very same people.

I agree with the aims but the tactics are nonsense. It reminds me of random anarchists bumping off royals in the 1890s but not being arsed to do the unglamourous organising.

What do you suggest those of us for whom public transport isn’t an option do without our cars?

@Miniroofbox

I want to know if the op works in the NHS.

Yes I do

About to get off the train I will answer more later if I can

Xx

Considering the factual inaccuracies and the absolute lack of policy knowledge, do we really think this is a protestor? Or is it someone mocking Extinction Rebellion by pretending their supporters are as policy, campaigning and empathy free as we've always suspected?

What about all those people on zero hours contracts who can’t get to work because of your protests? How do you feel about their families and the fact that you stop them earning a living when you’re sitting in the police van getting paid from your state paid job?

@ElizaDarcysDeeds

Considering the factual inaccuracies and the absolute lack of policy knowledge, do we really think this is a protestor? Or is it someone mocking Extinction Rebellion by pretending their supporters are as policy, campaigning and empathy free as we've always suspected?

Unfortunately I don’t think it is satire l, I think it is somebody who genuinely believes in the cause without any inclination to understand how much their protests can ruin lives.

@Davina69 YES! This is the case with all of these ER protesters. They whinge, moan and cause ordinary folk problems who are trying to go about their legal daily business. Come up with any actual solutions? Try to educate or inform the public? No that’s not as exciting as getting arrested to spice up their boring middle class lives. Perhaps if they had to worry about where their next meal was coming from or how to meet bills and rent they would have more to concern them. Utter utter twats and this is the first time I have been properly angry on MN.

ER are a bunch of idiots who should know better.
Chaining yourself to street furniture is not going to bring climate change under control.

How can you take the governments dirty money every month h the en op? How’s that square with your principles?

@Miniroofbox

What about all those people on zero hours contracts who can’t get to work because of your protests? How do you feel about their families and the fact that you stop them earning a living when you’re sitting in the police van getting paid from your state paid job?

Apparently they’ve just to let XR know of any personal difficulties and they’ll wave them through

@Arcadia

No questions, but I cannot believe the almost unilateral hostility towards XR on Mumsnet. Good luck OP.

I'm with Arcadia on this one. The tone pretty much across the board here is absolutely vile. If you feel strongly against what the OP stands for, that's your call. But at least exercise a modicum of decency and politeness when engaging with them.

@trappedsincesundaymorn

That's very sad. Had it been known at the time, he would have been escorted through

he shouldn't have needed to be escorted through, anyone with a shred of decency would have known that.

LOL. Sure. Of course.

Ack, that's to the quoted bit,not the response!

Why? They have shown no respect whatsoever for others - reap/sow.

@Pinktable11 I wonder if you were in the City of London on Friday? My DS was in a mini bus with several very vulnerable ASD adults. Your charming cohorts thought verbally abusing these people and banging on the van was totally acceptable and absolutely refused to let them pass through. They were held there until rescued by the police.

Non violen? Pull the other one.

When are you going to grow the fuck up, stop behaving like an arrogant arsehole and actually do something constructive ?

The custody Sargent said stop bringing him noctogerians please

Aye, he did, did he?

@MaMelon

Why? They have shown no respect whatsoever for others - reap/sow.

Exactly

What do you want to be when you grow up?

[quote StopGo]@Pinktable11 I wonder if you were in the City of London on Friday? My DS was in a mini bus with several very vulnerable ASD adults. Your charming cohorts thought verbally abusing these people and banging on the van was totally acceptable and absolutely refused to let them pass through. They were held there until rescued by the police.

Non violen? Pull the other one.[/quote]
I’m so sorry your son was treated like that @stopgo

Mention of the science museum has really worried me. Are you going to scare my teenage daughter daughter tomorrow when she takes her very first unaccompanied trip into Central London? It's an end of summer holiday celebration and she is visiting the natural history museum with a friend.

She has ADHD and generalised anxiety disorder and this trip is a big deal for her and her friend. And they are going to the museum because they are young people that are passionate about the natural world. So they are part of the solution not part of the problem.

This thread sums up XR for me really.
They plop in, wind everyone up, reveal that they don't actually have a plan or even know what they're talking about really, then disappear until the next time they turn up like an annoying boil.
I'd welcome more direct, local, informed, positive action. For example organising a climate action union in your local workplace, raising awareness on carbon neutrality, influencing workplace travel strategies, energy efficiency, procurement policies, campaigning for car share & public transport & remote working arrangements, work with your parish council to organise a climate action group, get your MP to at the very least make some public statement, get your council to declare a climate & biodiversity crisis, start a regional campaign for better public transport & cycling networks, LTN's etc.
Stop antagonising the vast majority of the general public who we actually need to join in.