What do the protestors think they're achieving?

[Intotheniiight]

This isn't a goady post or expressing my opinion on the actual situation but I'm watching the news and seeing all these protestors doing sit ins etc at US universities and now here and I genuinely don't understand what they think that achieves in any genuinely productive helpful way to the cause?

How does someone willingly starving themselves on the steps of columbia university help?

I have snipped them but I haven't changed the meaning. I don't think anyone could read all the OP posts and get the impression that you don't think the protests are pointless. All of your phrasing suggests that you do. And I think it's really important that posters are challenging that because whether we agree with the cause or not, protecting our right to protest is fundamental to keeping democracy alive. I thought it as I walked to the polling station today thanks to the suffragettes!

I've literally never said people shouldn't be allowed to protest... Ever. I didn't give my stance on whether I agree or disagree so there's no 'challenging' me... I asked why, helpful people have answered me and enlightened me on certain aspects that hadn't occurred to me and I've thanked them

yes, it was a job that needed a high level of clearance, and they initially said they could not employ her. She had told me because I was one of her referees. She appealed and was successful, because we all have the right to protest. But it did not seem at all sure she would be able to get the job. And it is a career she had been working towards for a while.

That's awful, I'm glad she got her job in the end!

No, @Intotheniiight you didn't say people shouldn't be allowed to protest nor did I accuse you of saying that. But all of your posts have been quite intent on diminishing the worth of these protests. In saying that you don't think they achieve anything, that the protesters should 'hop on a plane' to affected areas or work with charities instead, that they'll just be ignored, that there is no productive end to them, you are minimising the impact and importance of protest as a movement. I think that's a viewpoint always worth challenging. Because we have a government intent on dismantling this right, we should all defend its inherent value in society rather than dismissing it as ineffective.

You're assigning intent to my words that aren't there. But I'm happy to agree to disagree as you obviously care a lot and I respect that :)

They are drawing attention to the disgust felt by very many about the dreadful situation in Gaza. Good for them.

I mean this genuinely OP; have you seen the footage coming out of Gaza? Have you seen the videos of dying children? If you have then I can't understand why you are so puzzled as to why people are desperate to do anything they can to beg their governments to do the right thing and help stop it. It's absolutely abhorrent, a stain on us all and I won't stop marching or talking about it or organising at all, ever.

I genuinely don't understand what they think that achieves in any genuinely productive helpful way to the cause?

This is quite a superior tone, along with your thread title. But no doubt you’ll call me mean. Funny how you can’t recognise in your posts the same things you’re accusing others of doing.

Us French enjoy a higher standard of living, simply because we protest if the government steps out of line. They are more of us than them. May long it continues!

I think anyone saying 'well, why protest because it doesn't do anything' is either

1. Not aware of modern history,
2. Someone who has given up, or
3. Working for the Tories.

Must be nice to be one of "us French" and so superior, @Auvergne63.

You are aware that people in other countries have, occasionally, protested since that date?

Indeed. They have. Glad they do too.