Omg the scenes from the London protests

[SistemaAddict]

I'm just watching the news and am finding it so frightening to see the crowds, the police, the tension, the horse bolting.
I understand the desire to protest but how is this the right way to do things? I know there will be thousands of peaceful protesters among the ones causing trouble.
I'm concerned about the covid risk to everyone there especially as BAME are more at risk of the virus.

I hate confrontation and get very anxious so wanted to chat to others about this. Yes, I could switch off but I think it's important to watch and learn and understand what and why is happening.

It's just started raining, heavily.

That might change what happens during the central London demonstrations

I've just seen a tweet from Manchester from another thread and I feel sick at the thought of all those people crowded together and the risks they are taking both to themselves and others.

It's not the right way, people are now listening, but it seems no one has anything productive to say. There are so many videos of people on social media trying to provoke the police so they get some footage which can go viral; it's not helping the cause is it. Plus the risk of taking covid home to their families and friends, the increased pressure on an already knackered NHS, and the cost of removing grafitti etc. I agree that fundamental changes should happen and there are things that are unacceptable level that happen over here too, but it's sad.

It’s their decision to protest - they’ve obviously decided that protesting for change outweighs the risk of covid.

But they've made that decision on behalf of others, because they risk passing it on. That's the thing in the middle of a pandemic, your actions affect others, and you can't choose to take the risk for yourself in isolation.

The crowds are making me anxious as well.

It's an absolute disgrace.

Nearly all are peaceful and wearing masks.

They haven’t decided to protest - they don’t have a choice because enough is enough and it’s time for change.

They have made a conscious decision to protest, and the crowd isn't just made up of those who have had enough. What positive action do you see coming from them then? People are now listening, isn't some sort of actual action or proposed actions more useful than what is happening? What is the desired and reasonable tangible outcome?

And I imagine the least of their concerns is the virus at this time

Really? Well in 2 weeks it will be a bigger concern.

Utterly disgusting. Completely pointless. Undermines any point they’re trying to make? Idiots. Spreading disease and risking theirs and officer’s lives from covid. Don’t get me started on the horses. I’m so angry.

@Davespecifico Nearly all are peaceful and wearing masks.

I've seen very few masks. A couple of women were wearing them on their chin which amused me.

My own dealings with the police do not lead me to think highly of them but watching the news now I think they are very good in this situation. They are at high risk but doing their job calmly and professionally. I'd have struggled not to hit so done with their phone in my face

In the modern world petitions etc don’t make a major difference. For actual change, major action has to be taken to make those in power and the authorities

I agree that petitions are pointless. What are your proposals for real change? Because believe me I am all ears and prepared to fight to impliment them.

I suppose they think that the pandemic will end and racism won't...and they'd be right.

It wasn’t our police though, was it?

What worries me is that they will bring covid back to their communities and onto public transport etc if it spreads there.

I’m not a horsey person but I am an animal lover and it does worry me about horses getting injured.
Do people think it’s time horses weren’t used by the police anymore.
I was waiting in my car while dh took stuff to the charity shop and was astonished to see two policemen on horseback come down a quiet , bit often troublesome street.
They knocked on the door.
I don’t think anyone was answering.
Now the horse station is 15 miles away in the next town ...I really couldn’t understand why these horses were brought all this way for them to make a visit to a possible troublemakers door, that could quite easily have been done with a police car.

What happened to the rider of the horse? Was he or she unseated?

I'm watching it now on Sky but haven't caught up on the detail yet.

More outrage over protests about social injustice than people clamouring for flat pack furniture and 99p hamburgers highlights everything that is wrong with "enlightened society"