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.

DeeCeeCherry, do you feel that the UK is not your country

Rocaille Yes, I feel that way. I was born in the UK. But here is where I've been called racist names more times than I can remember. Had a grown man spit in my hair when I was 13 and tell me to fuck off back home, whilst his mates laughed. Watched my 15 year old brother approached by police 'Right, you're nicked for possession of an offensive weapon'. When he said No, I don't have any weapon? they put a metal stick in his hand and said 'You have now'. On lunch break at work had a white woman purposely barge into me and mutter N word in the street and when I told her off she feigned a panic attack and I was surrounded by an angry mob in seconds. Been labelled aggressive for not putting up with both subtle and overt bullying at work (I became self-employed so that I'd never have to put up with that kind of discrimination again). I'm tired of comments about my afro hair and No, you can't touch it.

Where we know at a certain age we have to tell our DCs about racism and that there are those who'll discriminate and block opportunities due to racism. & That if attacked, the law won't necessarily protect them. Lots of other reasons concerning racism, too long to list.

I took very early retirement and made a life in my heritage country. So I did fuck off home, I guess. I'm in UK for 3 months or so each year as I still have family and good friends here, if not for that I wouldn't bother. It's freeing not having to think or worry about or even experience racism, and all the other miserable conversations resulting from media and government pitting people against each other.

I've been here since February this time and already had N word shouted at me from a car.

That's awful DeeDee, I'm so sorry these things happen to you. I wish it didn't, I'm trying to help wherever I can.

I'm also very sorry you've had to endure the abuse you described, DeeCeeCherry.

I'm glad you've found somewhere you can get some peace for at least part of the year.

@BeijingBikini I'm a bit sick of hearing people saying this and the meme on social media implying that no one complained before if lockdown breaches , there was uproar over the beaches , locals telling people to stay away and they were not welcome and VE Day celebrations loads posting how irresponsible their neighbours were being
People on here as you say have basically accused someone who's breached lock down with a minor indiscretion as being responsible for someone's death , the majority I know have supported these protests but wanted people to social distance and still be careful etc and most don't agree with violence , it's not ok for someone else to get hurt
Ironically if we were going to see a massive rise due to VE Day we would expect to see that by now or very soon and the beaches were couple weeks ago so again should see the impact soon , but the reality is the beaches were a minority many beaches people were being sensible
Same with protests a lot were wearing masks , our local protest social distancing was followed as in many
But we don't see those pictures in media we see the crowded beach , the violent protestors wouldn't it be good to show pictures of both sides

DeeDeeCherry, that all sounds absolutely dreadful, and I'm really sorry that those things happened to you.

This is why I think we need to show the sort of solidarity over this issue that has been shown by the protestors - admittedly most of them were black, but there were whites there. In spite of COVID, in spite of the possibility of violence, in spite of anything, we need to show that this is not how most people feel.

Considering the shameful racism that we as a nation showed during the Brexit shenanigans, I am amazed that people complain about this. It is up to the rest of us to actually demonstrate that we don't feel like that, but do believe in the supposed mores of our nation.

Otherwise, it's a bit like men saying they don't think sexism still exists.

@strugglingwithdeciding

@BeijingBikini I'm a bit sick of hearing people saying this and the meme on social media implying that no one complained before if lockdown breaches , there was uproar over the beaches

This!! People were up in arms about people going to the beaches and conga'ing around in VE Day! There were numerous posts