Today's protests

[Hewlet]

Is your city/town affected by the protests today? I'm concerned by them and wondering if I should participate in a counter-protest.
But the other part of me feels that this will all descend in to male violence on both sides and I should stay clear.

A quick AS will reveal polly's angle, I think.

Only stupid people mostly male think the current unrest is okay. Don't give it oxygen. There is no cause only a loose link to a tragic crime which is being used as an excuse to be criminal.

More people going and getting involved is not going to help if anything its going to add fuel to the fire! The police and hospitals do not need more people getting involved because when it all kicks off there will be even more for them to deal with. When the fights start that's it, it doesn't matter what sex you are or your age when them bricks etc are flying there's a good chance you might take one in the face!

Or testicles. Or both.

If I was still up living in Sunderland I would have gone down this morning for the clean up which is a more clear counter protest - but what went on there last night wasn't a protest, it was an orchestrated riot with people travelling in from all over to cause bother (the swastika tattoo guy photographed lots apparently came from Stoke).

There's one planned in the city centre where I live now this afternoon, and a counter protest and while I'd love to be able to stand up to these racist thugs - I'm staying well clear.

You fail to see why a parent would want to make sure their children were not anywhere near these frightening events??

Pretty obvious why it is relevant.

I don't live in England any more, but if I did I would be very much in two minds about going to counterprotest. I would very much want to (and I am a grizzled old protester of many years standing), but two things would deter me, first I am am old and unfit (and my bones break easily), but more importantly I think the people who are saying it could make things even more difficult for the police do have a point. And maybe more oxygen of publicity is being given to what is surely a small group of violent fascists if there are big counterprotests. I don't know what the answer is.

There's one organised for our town tomorrow, DD and I were at the opticians this morning ,they said they're open tomorrow but shutters will remain down and employees have been advised not to leave for lunch and to park further away from the building. There's also a funfair in town ATM, I'm not sure what they'll be doing tomorrow.

Thank you for linking the list in your post earlier. I didn't realise my town would be on there so it has been helpful to learn that.

Well, thank you for that contribution.

There is a protest in my city today so I am avoiding the city centre/waterfront area. It is right next to a family funfair so some people might get caught up in it without realising.

Watching it coming through on social media now. So depressing. I feel sorry for the riot police in their uniforms in this heat facing a violent mob. I wonder what goes through their minds :(

The thing is, I know I will be supporting many of the people in the crowd at work on Monday, helping them to access benefits and food parcels. They aren't bad people, but they are low on options and opportunities and they are curious about confident men with apparently simple answers to their complex problems. It's frustrating seeing them sucked in like this.

Hearing from friends that counter-protestors were vastly outnumbered and asked to leave by the police (and have done so).

It’s really upsetting seeing the images of these lowlife scum yelling (no doubt) abuse straight into the faces of the police, who to their credit look completely stoic and dignified.

…and I don’t even want to begin to imagine any officers that are a POC are experiencing 😢

Reports of violence currently in Belfast. My DH has just gone in to collect DD from work. I’m hoping they are well away from it all. I just can’t understand what people think this will achieve.

I think I read that manchester outnumbered them. Glad to see ordinary people are showing them this won't be tolerated.

Also not many turned up in my hometown today so that's a relief that it was a damp squib.

Also not many turned up in my hometown today so that's a relief that it was a damp squib.

Mine also, from what I can see - a small number of 'protesters', a probably similar number countering them, police dispersed them pretty quickly.

Maybe too close to Southport for anyone local to have an appetite for a riot, and people travelling from further south probably stopped off at Manchester.

Errol - are you in the NW?

I've read on Facebook an Asian man had glass bottles thrown at him "just because" but the police have set up a dispersal zone around the city centre.

Does that go for the riots in stoke also ?? Police turning a blind eye to people with weapons? People getting hit in head with hammers etc ?

Did you see harehill riots ? The police were running away.

Two white guys were attacked with hammers is that ok then.??