Why was it mostly men on the march?

[noblegiraffe]

I've seen quite a few photos of the march yesterday, and they pretty much all look like the one below. Vast majority men. Why is that? Why is Robinson's patriot messaging and call-to-action landing mostly with men and not women?

Voting by sex wasn't massively different in the last general election - men were certainly more likely to vote Reform, but not by a huge amount, so generally politically we're not that different.

Why are the 'ordinary people' on one side mostly men?

Do you mean no one believes there were millions ? Can't imagine why.

Please note that I didn't say it was only men. The existence of some women on the march doesn't negate the fact that the demographic appears to be mainly male.

Three friends of mine went on that Unite the Kingdom march, all of whom I met in an eco protest camp.
Anecdotal I know, but not just the usual stereotype.

Oh forgot to say, two women, one man. One actor, one carer, one scientist

I think a lot of people are pissed off that it didn’t turn in to a violent riot.
they are not happy that for the size of the March that it wasn’t as bad as they wanted it to be so they could prove a stereotypical point!

I was at a counter protest and I was absolutely terrified of something kicking off but felt it important to be there, along with lots of other women. There were a few women and children in the main protest but they were far outnumbered by the demographic being featured in the news, most of whom were deeply unpleasant and verbally threatening.

Because it's rooted in male supremacy, specifically white male supremacy.

Agree.

I believe there's a strong correlation between people who attended the protest and people who were looking for trouble. And people who are looking for trouble (of the violent variety) are usually men. Not always, but usually.

As an aside, I also believe that a main point of these protests is that the attendees want to "protect their women and girls". I've heard that a run club was in central London yesterday and received abuse from men who were clearly on the way to the protest. Reminds me of my old boss who was aggressive and confrontational to me on a regular basis but would majorly kick off if any other man in the office tried to do the same. It's fine for someone to abuse women and girls as long as they're not a person of colour.

I agree with @OldieButBaddietoo.

I read a report yesterday that the marchers were 70 - 80% men and almost 100% white. I will try to find it and post it.

Potential reasons for more men there -

• Tommy Robinson comes from a football hooligan firm background and so this is perhaps the audience his message meets first.
• White men feel they have most to lose from immigration - "When you're used to privilege, equality feels like oppression"
• At last year's riots many attendees (30% I think) were already known to the police for domestic violence. Perhaps women were put off by the threat of this coupled with the football firm element.
• Men are perhaps more attracted to the crusader in chain mail, pit pull type imagery being used by Tommy Robinson, Elon Musk and their ilk.

To add to my previous point I saw many coloured people there. Asian too. There was an amazing black man dressed head to toe in union flag. His suit pattern was union flag, his shoes etc. He was having a great time as lots of people wanted his photo.
I think there were a lot of people (like me) who had never been to a march before. There were middle aged and older women who looked like they were dressed up for a night out afterwards. There were old soldiers in their uniforms. It was extremely diverse.
I had my TERF ISLAND union jack flag and saw several more.

Women don't want to be around violent men and in the middle of punch ups in the street, I'd say that's why.

@noblegiraffe I know that you didn't say it wasn't just men at the march. However, you asked me to provide photographic evidence that there were women present. I chose not to take photos to avoid a racist confrontation because I am not white so therefore had a target on my back yesterday.

I had a lot of looks from marchers and one man with a flag glared at me & made me feel uncomfortable on my journey into work but nobody said anything. I'm absolutely sure that would have changed if I had started filming.

@Marylou2 What you have written sums it all up. Only people who feel passionately will march for a cause or speak out on social media. So whilst people are frothing at the protestors they can see and disagree with and I mean any protest for any cause over the last couple of years. What difference will it make to what really matters and that’s the ballot box. I have a friend who I have known for 20 years who surprised me by voting reform and telling me. Never ever in all those year has she ever told me who she voted for till now. She is exactly the type described at her kitchen island drinking wine, has a very well paid professional job. Hangs out with me a lot, I’m mixed race.

Police report on the violence at the march yesterday.

"They confronted officers, engaging in physical and verbal abuse and making a determined effort to breach cordons in place to keep everyone safe.
'The violence they faced was wholly unacceptable. 26 officers were injured, including four seriously – among them broken teeth, a possible broken nose, a concussion, a prolapsed disc and a head injury,"
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15095769/Met-Police-anti-migrant-protesters-26-officers-injured.html?ico=news%5Eheadlines

She didn’t know he was going and had plans. Also, she understands and to a point agrees with the march but not passionate enough to go. To be honest it was a bit of a shock when I was told too. I also had the opinion that it would lead to a violent out break so spent the whole day watching live feeds worrying about him and hoping he be would back in time to babysit his grandkids as me and my husband were going out together for the first time in a year lol.

We don’t really discuss politics in our family - I know people’s opinions but it’s not ranted about or spoke with passion. So was pretty surprised he went.

@Usernameunavailableagain12

From BBC:
“Assistant Commissioner Twist said officers had suffered broken teeth, concussion, a prolapsed disc, a head injury and a possible broken nose.”

Yes, it really went well, didn’t it? Very peaceful. Something to be proud of.

But maybe some right wing activists believe that having some injured policemen is the fair price to pay to preserve their “rights”.

There were also tourists of all colours and anti racist marchers in central London who probably weren't part of Robinson's marchers.

Why did you feel proud?

Maybe they were leaving their wives at home out of potential danger....I heard on a post yesterday that there were people who actually took their children on the counter protests - unbelievable...

I'm sorry that the marchers made you feel unsafe. That's totally unacceptable.

@SeaAndStarsand yet there was very few arrests and more people were arrested at Notting hill carnival.
a small group of people out of 110k does not make everyone on that March a racist thug who beats up their wife.
do I agree with the March ? No
do I agree they are allowed a different opinion to mine? Yes

Well said.

Turkeys voting for Christmas, I’ll never understand it.