Why are people allowed to in cite racial hatred when little old ladies are being arrested for supporting an end to war and killing innocent chidren?

[BlueSkySunshineDay]

A keynote white, male speaker at T Robinson’s rally saying we must “end Islam” yesterday. What the actual FUCK? Why wasn’t he arrested?

"Little old ladies"?

How patronising can you get? These are strong, independent activists who just happen to be older.

ETA that otherwise, I totally agree with you.

I totally agree with you OP.
Those scenes from yesterday are bloody terrifying.

And it’s absolutely staggering that the racist thugs who hurt police, police horses and hurt each other and no doubt hurt as many counter demonstrators as they could reach, were not arrested. God knows what racist abuse those thugs will be dishing out to others in their everyday lives.

It’s not a barrier to having political opinions and activism to be little or old or female, we can all agree. But it is relevant because the peaceful Palestine Action protesters do get arrested for holding words up on a piece of paper precisely because they are non violent and little and old and many of them are female.

Does seem to be a massive barrier to arrest if you’re male and proactively violent in a massive group among other violent males and that is very scary and fucked up to see as a normal person wanting to have political debate not political arrests or dangerous under-policing around racist poltiical violence. It’s a monumental challenge to policing but somehow it has to be cracked. I appreciate the fact the police have said they will take action on illegal behaviour from yesterday retrospectively, but that willl be the tip of the iceberg if it happens and it needs to be very well publicised if it is to reassure anyone.

You want to conduct an arrest in the face of 100,000 people plus, be my guest.

Maybe the magistrates at Peterloo weren't the villains history has made them out to be?

It’s because one organisation is banned as deemed a terrorist organisation and the other isn’t.

Any speaker who is deemed to incite hatred can be prosecuted but it’s the individual as opposed to the organisation. So whoever that speaker is runs the risk of being arrested as an individual.

Regardless of any side of the angels and the make up of its supporters its because Palestine Action was banned by the government because they broke in to a military base.

Whilst what he said can be perceived to be racist and may very well have its roots in racism it’s the hatred of the religion that shines through. He was saying end a religion not a race. As someone mixed race the rise in racism is worrying, it can worry anyone regardless of what race they are but I can’t hide my face.

Why ‘little old ladies’ bit patronising. It’s due to the law on supporting PA. People can disagree with that but that’s why those placard holders are arrested.

It they are little and old and ladies, I don’t feel it’s offensive to describe them as such.

Why are old people always described as little?!

"Little old ladies" is indeed offensive, regardless of what you think, @BlueSkySunshineDay . In any case, it is very clear in your OP that you aren't just using it as a neutral physical descriptor but in accordance with its universal actual meaning - sweet, vulnerable innocents, harmless, naive.

Islam isn't a race it's an ideology. Any ideology should be able to be criticised.
Considering allowing laws preventing that scare me more

They're clearly older women who are opinionated, feisty and tough as old boots. They would quite likely be infuriated to read your description of them. You're setting out to make them sound weak and vulnerable.

Good grief. Have some respect.

The one on the left looks tough as old boots [EDIT and there is nothing to indicate that she is 'little'], which is prob why she is handcuffed. The one on the right looks like she has had so many years of being patronisingly dealt with as 'a little old lady' that she graciously ignores the pigeon-holing, mindful of the fact that young people just don't get it - they just don't understand that you remain yourself when your body changes.

If you didn't intend the offensive connotation, why not just say 'old women'?

Last time I checked being "little" and "old" doesn't automatically make someone a better person. So why should someone be exempt from arrest just because they look like grandmas?

It's like saying a beautiful, blonde haired protester deserves to be above the law because she looks a certain way that society perceives to be pure and innocent. The justice system would be bonkers if all decisions were made like that.

With age, people actually shrink a bit due to bone density loss.

With age, people actually shrink a bit due to bone density loss.

It is offensive.
She's a woman, with her own mind and making her own choices.
"Little old lady" is so patronising, ageist and sexist.

Mmm. Could be true. Could be about minimising them as people?

That doesn’t always make them little.

I’ve been “little” my entire life, nobody describes me as such. Why should it start when I become “old”?

If it’s simply a descriptor, why don’t we use it for men when they are small?

Posting these images and doubling down doesn’t help. I agree with pp have more respect.

@BlueSkySunshineDay you are conflating two things. The arrests at the Gaza protests were not about protesting Gaza, they deliberately and knowingly flouted the law, knowing Palestine Action Group have been proscribed as a terrorist organisation due to them breaking into a military base and being found in restricted areas, vandalising aircraft. I’m happy to see a protest against that proscription, but muddying the waters by doing so at a protest about Gaza is a bad idea as clearly it runs the risk of having people who aren’t following the extensive news coverage of the issue believing the police are arresting people for protesting Gaza.

Palestine Action Group caused £7 million pounds worth of damage to military aircraft and people are OK with that?

Saying “end Islam” should never be an arrestable offence. No more than “smash capitalism” or “Christianity is lies” or similar.

I’d agree, I’m an atheist and generally my approach is very live and live but religious ideaologies are often used to cause/ justify atrocities. I think now more than ever we need critical thinking. Not just of religious authorities but of all the information we consume.

Are you talking about when 500 odd people were arrested for holding placards supporting Palestinian Action? If so, the police had to arrest them as they are proscribed, it is illegal to support them.

@BlueSkySunshineDayhi Blue, Im older, I have grey hair, Im 5’ 3” was 5’6” as a younger adult. I know you mean no offence, but it is betilltling, patronising and ‘othering’ to describe older women as “little old ladies”.

Maybe if some of their counterparts didn’t behave recklessly and cause millions of pounds worth of damage to MOD property they wouldn’t have been arrested. If you want to be mad at anyone blame them.