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.

Unless you were there you can’t make any statements about how many people were wearing masks, how many people are white, or any of the other nonsense that’s been trotted out by people who get their “facts” from the Daily Mail.

On one of the other half dozen “anti racism protestors are idiots” threads, a now-banned poster was swearing blind that something didn’t happen at last weekend’s protest, which multiple posters who were actually there could confirm did happen.

It’s just barely concealed racism aimed at attacking the anti racism movement.

If you want to be angry at something, be angry at the murders of black people.

The four police officers who murdered George Floyd were arrested and charged ONLY because of public pressure. The response by the authorities was to do everything possible to protect the officers. That’s proof that protesting works.

I'm a nurse and I'm whilst I support the cause, I'm really upset at the crowds. This undermines everything that people have done for the last 3 months. People have killed themselves during this pandemic because they are so lonely and isolated. People have missed their relatives funerals, births, this is just not the right way to execute it. I'm sorry, it really isn't 💔

@Flutteryb

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.

Are you advocating the use of violence there?

Horses are excellent for crowd control. People who will think nothing of mobbing the police will generally think twice before trying to push over something that bites with one end, kicks with the other, and if it stands on your foot, you're going to be in pain for quite some time. Police horses are incredibly well trained.

I have heard it suggested that alternative eye witness accounts suggested that the officer may have in fact ridden into a traffic light pole? I hope both horse and officer are okay.

Downright cruel to take horses into that environment. Yes i know they're highly trained and desensitized but some people have no problem attacking police horses. I applaud the police officers doing their job without the brutality we see in the us however.

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.

This.

Maybe they think that centuries of systematic oppression of black people and the racism that permeates every inch of society is a worthy cause?

A huge number of frontline NHS staff are BAME and whilst we know covid effects those demographics more we still dont know why. These protests will take more BAME lives via covid. Is that really what people want? And of course then putting more frontline staff at added exposure whilst caring for them.
No excuse for attacking the horse at all.

@Flutteryb

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.

Exactly.

Protests really don't achieve anything, and definitely won't achieve anything GOOD right now.

Large gatherings of people, many BAME & not socially distancing - I can't think what could possibly go wrong there?!

🙇🏻‍♀️

So you’re saying that BAME people should accept racial abuse and systemic racism for a few more months?

If you think me saying as a nurse I'm upset by the crowds = BAME need to just accept racial abuse, then you need to look inside yourself.

“Fundamental changes should happen....”

Fundamental changes should have fucking happened 28 years ago after the LA race riots. But they haven’t. Nothing has changed since then. I don’t blame black people one bit for being so angry they want to scream and shout. I can’t possibly imagine what it must feel like to see this happen over and over and over and over again.

It’s not on black people to make positive changes. It’s not on them to come up with ideas. It’s on the rest of society that allows this to happen to make changes. They should protest, they have every right to be angry and if I didn’t have young children at home, I’d be there too.

@ThePianist38

Natural selection

If it worked like that, then their choice, but it doesn't as it's a VIRUS that they'll pass on to others who don't get to make that choice. It's stupid & selfish in the middle of a bloody pandemic that's at R1

There are other ways to make their protest.

i support the protesters and respect their ability to make their own risk assessments. i wish i could do more than donate (i would wear a mask though)

BLACK LIVES MATTER

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling HIGH FIVE

@MexicanStyle

If you think demonstrations in London will make any difference to events in the US, where George Floyd was killed, you are delusional. As for the scenes of people attacking UK cops, chucking bottles? They are thugs. Violent thugs.

It will all be forgotten in a couple of weeks when a large number have contracted the virus. I feel the same re the horses.

For the billionth time, those attending mass protests arent just increasing their own risk, but those of other people inc their families and healthcare workers. Its beyond selfish.

Queues for ikea and McDonald's are batshit crazy but they didn't involve the police or risk to others on anything like this scale.

I'm watching Sky news for clarity and certainly don't read the daily mail.

I'm all for protests but in the middle of a global pandemic? No.

MexicanStyle

Breonna Taylors case has been reopened following ONLINE attention, so yes activism can be undertaken at home safely. Protesting isn't the only form of making voices heard, and at this moment is actively harmful.

@Bercows Granted the uk protest hasn't added much, but the American ones if they hadn't of protested during this pandemic. There would of been no comeback to them officers for what they done. And during these protests numerous more offences have been committed by police officers to black people.