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 do care. I have reviewed so many equality statements, policies procedures over the years. Ensured there were diverse panels, ensured there was positive discrimination.

I honestly believe there has been enormous progress. I was also brought up with horses. Anyone, of any creed, colour, or any other protected characteristic who throws a flare or hurls a bike at a horse is nothing but a troublemaker and a thug. Nobody with a single brain cell is ignorant enough to think that is anything but provocative and they deserve to go to prison for a long time.

Oh, wait a minute, they were legitimately wearing masks and gloves so will be difficult to identify.

This was imo as much about hatred and bitterness as it was about BLM. Most BAME people are decent and hardworking. Every bit of society has a thread of oppositional defiance running through it. Black, white, brown, rich, poor, left, right. It serves no constructive purpose and has deflected the passion for equality evidenced by the majority of decent bame/black people who demonstrated today.

Why should they care about the pandemic when they’ve been subjected to oppression for hundreds of years?

Perhaps because they don't want their elderly or infirm loved ones to die? Or is everybody just colattoral damage now so long as the message is heard.

If they are prepared to martyr themselves and make that choices for their families I'm not prepared to accept them making it for me and mine.

I saw a video on twitter of someone ramming a bicycle into the side of a police horse. I hate stuff like that.

@MumsnetHQ please get rid of this covert racist diatribe of a thread. I see a very small resemblance of a constructive discussion being outweighed by offensive ignorance. The views of some people on this thread should not be a associated with the site. I actually feel ashamed of myself not arguing some of the points made but, aside from being so fuelled with rage I don’t think I’d make much sense, I feel relatively confident I’d be wasting my time.

I'm sure Boris and DC are delighted at this happening now. This enables the government to blame 'the public' for any rise in figures or any second wave.

Absolutely @MexicanStyle. The ignorance expressed on this thread is breathtaking and PRECISELY why the protest is happening! So what if it happened in the US?! The fact is, black peoples experience similar levels of systemic and endemic racism in the UK. It is a ripple effect from what has happened in the US to a tidal wave here for people fucking sick and tired of being oppressed. Not in any way that’s overt but in smaller, more insidious ways that permeate our society. Take a good fucking look at yourself if you genuinely don’t understand why the protest is happening.

@MexicanStyle I get that and I understand why they are protesting but why now in the middle of a pandemic? 40,000 people have died so why are they putting themselves and the country at risk even further?

I’m angry because my husbands business is going down the drain, we have no money we are all supposed to be social distancing and then you see thousands attending a protest.

I'm not prepared to accept them making it for me and mine

Maybe they feel the same way which is why this is happening. I dont blame them one bit!

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

Saw the footage on Twitter. Horse bolted with rider still attached, trying to bring horse under control. Was unseated when horse ran under a set of overhanging traffic lights and rider smacked straight into them. It looked bad.

Random extra s for black people!

People have a democratic right to peacefully protest. Once you remove that, you are in very deep shit.

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling I understand why it’s happening but what are you not understanding about WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING PANDEMIC? FFS.

Good for them. If you’ve assessed and feel the cause is more worthy than your risk of catching covid (which for so many, particularly young people, it is) then I say good for you. They’ve made an impact, their voice has been heard. Have you seen the thread about parents letting all their kids play together? People are reaching the end of their tether and to be honest if the outcome is that racism is curbed or addressed in any way then it can only be a good thing. If you’re still scared of the virus shield as long as you want- other people want to live their lives.

@RozHuntleysStump

It wasn’t our police though, was it?

Protest aside. People like you are part of the problem. Do you not know what is happening outside of the bubble you live in. I surely do. You think the police here do not kill black people. Black people are disproportionately stopped by the police, or do they deserve it. Racism is rife in this country too. Go and educate yourself

So selfish. They will pass this virus on to more vulnerable people now. Complete idiots.

People have a democratic right to peacefully protest. Once you remove that, you are in very deep shit.

Yes I agree with this. It’s a hard one but on balance this should remain.

MexicanStyle

You come across as deeply antagonistic, a troll, or just a massive virtue signaller. Whichever it is, it is not helping anything.

People are totally entitled to be concerned about the potential increase in covid cases due to thousands gathering in groups, and the irony that this may actually cause more BAME deaths. This does not make people racist.

People are completely entitled to be concerned about horses and them being harmed today. This does not make people racist.

People are allowed to discuss say 'fuck everyone else health because my people have had 400 years of persecution'. This doesn't make them racist.

I suspect you know these things and just want to appear morally superior. You probably live in an echo chamber where everyone says exactly as you do.

There are health professionals on this thread who know first hand the dangers of covid and how harmful this might be. People can be concerned about BLM whilst simultaneously being worried about protesting. THIS ISN'T RACIST.

@Tulipstulips

I saw a video on twitter of someone ramming a bicycle into the side of a police horse. I hate stuff like that.

Just seen that clip myself - bloody awful, how does deliberating hurting an innocent animal help the cause?

@MexicanStyle Sat 06-Jun-20 19:58:43

mumsnethq delete this thread - it’s doing my fucking head in trying to make these people see sense

^^Me too.

@MexicanStyle but there is a pandemic.. Do the protesters not care? Will they all be self isolating after this? Will they all be expecting hospital beds when they are ill and taking it away from other people who have been taking the pandemic and the lockdown seriously? It’s just so reckless and I feel genuinely scared for the next few months.