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.

[quote MexicanStyle]@IncrediblySadToo If you don’t want them to protest, what do you want BAME people to do then for change?[/quote]
I don't want them to protest without Socially Distancing themselves!! Which is not quite the same thing it?!

They could have picked places with much more space (Hyde park instead of parliament square) in the middle of a bloody pandemic!!

Before I'm called all sorts, I am totally in support of a protest and would likely attend myself, but now is not the time, not acceptable to increase risk to life. Surely doing it now is ironic given the reasons behind the protest?

I have such respect for the police, trying to stay low profile but responding instantly as soon as they needed to.
How they keep passive expressions in the face of such goading and provocation is impressive.
The whole thing sickens me. I bet they were all clapping the NHS a couple of weeks ago, they'll be needing them sadly at this rate.

Of course black lives matter. I don't know anyone who doesn't agree.

I have great sympathy with the cause, but my anxiety about the spread of covid outweighs that sympathy.,

The stupid thing is that the resultant deaths will affect BAME people more than whites.

The phrase cutting off your nose to spite your face springs to mind. I'm so scared of the covid repercussions.

I have seen equal amounts of outrage on my local social media and heard it in person for many things recently , people gathering on beaches, queues for shops, Dominic Cummings as well as these protests.
It is I fear , a massive mistake at this crucial point in the pandemic when there is a risk of a second wave for anyone to attend any sort of gathering or crowded place

We went down and did a walk by about lunch time, it was busyish, but people were no more crowded than beaches, parks or VE day celebrations. The majority of people we saw from our walk past were wearing masks and it was relatively quiet, which felt weird.

My husband and children are part of the BAME community. My husband is an NHS doctor in Manchester and has worked more than full time through the pandemic, taking a risk every day.

The images today terrify me.

I think it's a great thing that they are doing. My husband is black and I'm fed up of people assuming he's some sort of scumbag because he's black.
We get followed in stores incase we steal something, he gets asked if he is selling drugs when we go clubbing because he's black. Some of my family look down on him because of his skin colour. It's disgusting.
If I didn't have three kids I'd be up there too.

but for others who feel it is safe to do so, it is attending protests.

But even if they feel the risk of attending is low, and they feel safe. Their actions could affect others.

@MexicanStyle why is it OK to make decisions about the lives of other people though?

I can't believe that in 2020 it's acceptable to charge horses at people, no matter how much of a pain in the arse they're being. It's barbaric.

Quite frankly if they fancy helping the UK towards herd immunity than fine by me! Indeed. Also, if the fabled second spike doesn't materialise in three weeks' time (although Boris and his clowns will probably manipulate the figures to make us believe that it happens), all the more evidence of the virus not being as bad/contagious as the dementors would have us believe.

Someone also said on another thread (now deleted) that some of these people might actually be protesting about the lockdown, and authority in general, without saying so, or maybe even unconsciously; as many of us (me too!) want to shout and scream our frustrations of the last ten weeks.

If you want to be angry at something, be angry at the murders of black people. it's possible to be angry at the murders of black people AND the increased numbers of people but especially BAME people who will die as a result of a 2nd spike in clovid19

Its pretty disgusting that posters are telling BAME people they are risking their lives by protesting when their lives ARE ALREADY at fcking risk from racism. When your people are already being killed by the police its perfectly understandable why you wouldnt give a shit about the virus right now. This is just another thinly veiled version of "sit down and shut up" under the disguise of faux concern about the virus.

@MexicanStyle

All I’m saying is that people have different ways with campaigning for change. For some people it is signing petitions, but for others who feel it is safe to do so, it is attending protests.

OP - you weren’t there at the protest - so what scenes are you referring to - I’m guessing you’ve seen a few pictures from a protest that has got out of hand?

The OP SAID 'on the news'

Up & down the country, 1000's of people not social distancing, spreading the virus that's killing people.

A virus that appears to affect BAME people even more so.

Madness.

And again, if it only affected to those protesting then that would be their choice, but it doesn't. OTHER people will die, how can you defend that?

'As for the scenes of people attacking UK cops, chucking bottles? They are thugs. Violent thugs'

Yes and I bet they hope one of them gets injured so they can blame the police. How that situation was diffused so quickly when the horse bolted was brilliant.

That's the difference between our police and America's, they'd have barged in inflaming the situation and knocking people over like that poor (white) 75yr old man yesterday.

Fucking mindless. I'm absolutely behind BLM and our right to protests but anyone behaving like that can fuck right off. I just watched a video of someone launching a Boris bike at a police horse - they can burn in hell for me.

@MexicanStyle I see what you're saying about timing, but I think that "fuck other people" attitude is morally wrong. Being subject to prejudice doesnt given carte blanche to play hard and fast with the lives of non consenting others.

New cases in London are pretty low these days, and catching the virus is much harder outside than inside, even in relatively crowded conditions.

I can't think of any online activism which would make the impact that people demonstrating in person does, and am glad that the right to protest still exists despite the pandemic.

@frillyflamingo Absolutely. The treatment of that horse is inexcusable.