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.

I just don’t understand what protesting gains? Apart from media coverage nothing else is achieved. It doesn’t change the law and it doesn’t change peoples thoughts or feelings On the subject.

The last 10/11 weeks of lockdown have been pointless when you see all these people protesting! No social distancing at all in sight!

@jiggly but it may play a part as well as all those on beaches not social distancing , we were eased out of lockdown but supposed to be no more than 6 people
The only thing I will say is a lot do seem to be wearing a mask and some protests have been social distanced unlike some of the people on the beaches who weren't adhering to any social distancing but then on other beaches they were and media only show the ones who weren't same as this they will show any violence but not the thousands acting appropriately
Then again there may be no spike which will show outside is maybe a lot safer , who knows

I don't know how to place a video but go to twitter and search 'London' then come back and tell me no one is rioting

In normal circumstances we have to remember we are very lucky in this country to have the right to peacefully protest . No one has objections to that if the protesters think they will achieve something and others wish to show their support .

But these are NOT normal times and the protesters were not in small groups social distancing and many were not wearing face coverings plus it was not our police force that actually on this occasion caused the problems .

We are in the middle of a pandemic and it’s the same feeling I have when I saw the people crammed on the beach even though it’s outside it is still increasing the risk of infection

But also on labour mp has said if the protest causes an increase of infection we should all blame the government.

Really ?

@Betty98

Could somebody please explain to me why it’s The Government, or the White population of this countries fault that this particular virus impacts BAME people to a more serious extent?

Because it isn’t their ethnicity making them more vulnerable, it’s their lifestyle. Such as being in lower paid positions. Which is a result of generations of systematic racism.

Can you give me the evidence for that? As I understand it, it’s linked to lack of Vitamin D. Dark skins can’t generate sufficient Vitamin D from the wishy-washy Northern sun.

I do have every sympathy, as a disabled person I have had my fair share of prejudice. However I don’t think having a mass protest at this particular time will help the cause.

Yes it is virtue signalling, when its against coronvirus laws - they're above that apparently. But a man who wants to look after his sick child - his life is ruined. I hate these proxy rent-a-mobs.

DS2 has been a "special" for some years, last night one of his colleagues was severely injured as he was hit over the head with a champagne bottle in what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.
A lot of "specials" work for the police for free, (out of sense of putting something back) it seems a shame that they are getting injured for their effort.

[quote Thesispieces]@catlovingdoctor why would the protestors at a BLM protest not likely to have paid taxes before?[/quote]
I took that to be a reference to the almost “professional” protesters who see to turn up no matter what the cause in the hope of a brawl who in the main won't be working.

Careful and selective editing.

Selective editing of what?

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

No, most of us in London were wearing masks

And they were being handed out for free as well

@iklboo

* curtainsforme simon

So what is the footage all over the internet?*

Careful and selective editing.

Yep, careful editing to get sites like MN frothing; just like the photos of "crowds" in Windsor a few weeks ago. Maybe there's even stock footage of the poll tax riots thrown in.

@Pangur2 Because we're in the middle of a fucking global pandemic. Which bit don't you understand?

@curtainsforme

I literally live here, there are no riots.

You don't live everywhere though. There are riots. Just because one Mumsnetter can't see them out their window doesn't mean they are not happening.

I have been to PS today, once this afternoon, then later on for my run. I have several friends who have also been there today, one who works as a BBC broadcaster. No riots. Just protestors.

Unfortunately the protests won’t change anything.

have been to PS today, once this afternoon, then later on for my run. I have several friends who have also been there today, one who works as a BBC broadcaster. No riots. Just protestors.

Protesters attacking police? Attacking police horses? Yeah. Sure. No riots in London. Nothing to see there, move on people

I’m also genuinely concerned that there will be a real increase in racial tensions in a few weeks if there is a second spike because rightly or wrongly it will be blamed on these protests.

I find all this sickening.

Obviously what happened to George Floyd was dreadful. The racism it’s indicative of is dreadful.

But that happened in the US. The UK’s not perfect but it makes me so angry that the UK’s police are being put in harm‘s way - through COVID and now violence - because of this.

What also makes me angry is that if a handful of black people are seen, for instance, looting, it’s (quite rightly!) unacceptable to believe all black people are looters.

Yet if a handful of police in a totally different country do something despicable, it’s acceptable to believe all the police are like this.

The police have demonstrated so much tolerance with today’s protest and are now being met with abuse and violence.

I don’t agree that anyone should have been protesting during a pandemic. But if I was a protestor who’d genuinely gone along to peacefully support BLM I’d be livid that my efforts had been totally overtaken by this rentamob.

I went to a BLM protest in the week. It was peaceful, respectful and very well attended. The majority of protestors had face masks on and we were socially distanced. It was outside. I felt less likely to catch covid 19 there than in a supermarket where people just reach past you to get what they need and stand so close you can feel their breath on your skin.

The protests are being live-streamed on YouTube if people want to see for themselves what's going on. There's a feed from Whitehall, outside Downing Street and another from Parliament Square.

mobile.twitter.com/MuradMerali/status/1269264535455780865

Like this @curtainsforme what a dangerous riot!

I agree with OP that the scenes are frightening, that's what you started the thread to ask.

I've just watched a video with an officer coming off the horse, people continue to throw bikes and bottles at the other horses as they try to help their colleague.

Whilst I appreciate this is one video, very few are in masks as suggested.

Those poor horses.

@goingtotown

Unfortunately the protests won’t change anything.

Protests have changed things before. Poll Tax being one of the more recent examples.

What is for sure, though, is doing nothing will change nothing. May as well make your voice heard (without rioting) and hope for change rather than keep quiet and know nothing will.

@SimonJT there is clearly a small group throwing things and causing issues although not sure where this is in Lisbon exactly but this is all over the media and being re posted etc it then takes away from those thousands who have gone and protested peacefully

@Betty98

There is no evidence to support that yet . The virus is more dangerous for the elderly , diabetics , people with certain blood groups and people with a higher bmi oh and also men . So can you apply your argument to all of those ?

The fact that WHO have only just changed their advice on face masks proves that unfortunately the scientists are still learning about this virus it is now also known to attack the blood vessels .

To politicise a world wide virus to me , in my opinion seems to be extremely premature and also a bit arrogant to think you know more than the scientists.

Showing a peaceful protest doesn't mean there are no riots though.