Poole RNLI protest

[Craftysue]

I've family in Dorset who have just told me that members of far right parties are planning a protest outside the RNLI headquarters in Poole on Saturday. They don't want the RNLI picking up migrants.
I know a lot of people are concerned about illegal migrants but do they really expect volunteers to ask people for their immigration status and leave people to drown if they are trying to enter illegally?
I thought my aunt had got it wrong but no, it appears that there are people who are ok with people drowning.
Maybe I'm being naive but it's really saddened me

They are racist cunts.

First reply nails it.

I'm concerned about the amount of asylum seekers coming into the country, particularly as it seems to be mainly single young men. But the idea of letting anyone drown is abhorent. The RNLI consists of brave volunteers whose sole aim is to save lives and thank god for them.

Perfect response

The last time people protested about this the RNLI received a shed load of donations in support. Let's hope that happens again.

Guy Martin recently joined the RNLI for his Proper Jobs series. Absolutely brilliant. Worth a watch to see how brave the volunteers are and how much they give up to help people at sea.

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/guy-martin-proper-jobs/on-demand/79419-004

Omg
Will give extra money to the RNLI asap.

Good idea - I will pop on the website and make a donation 👍

When this subject came up a while ago, someone said that these horrible protests usually result in increased donations to the RNLI. I hope that’s correct!

…xpost with a couple which suggests it may well be!

Yes - first response nails it.

Horrible people.

I heard a man on the radio, he was part of some volunteer group who rescued migrants by picking them up in boats. He said that there was a boat full of migrants that was sinking. A mother was signaling to throw her baby to them, so her baby would be saved. But the boat drifted into the water of another country, so the rescuers did not rescue them in case they were accused of people trafficking. So yes, they did sit and watch them drown, baby and all. He said the look on the Mother’s face when she realised tney would not help, was terrible

I know a lot of people are concerned about illegal migrants but do they really expect volunteers to ask people for their immigration status and leave people to drown if they are trying to enter illegally?

I think they do expect volunteers to ask exactly that. I was at an RNLI shop with an acquaintance who said that she no longer gives money to the RNLI because they pick up illegal immigrants. Then she said she didn’t oppose genuine refugees being rescued. I asked if she expected the RNLI to conduct some sort of entry questionnaire when stuck in the middle of the sea at 2 am in February in the middle of a howling gale. She didn’t reply and we moved onto another subject. But I hadn’t changed her mind.

She is a lady who is no fool and she lives in a part of the UK that is not known for having a lot of immigrants of any sort. I don’t think her life has been affected by immigration in any way, whatsoever.

We seem to be full of exactly the same sort of small minded people that we criticise in the US.

It seems that all the human race has the capacity for being extremely nasty indeed.

They are awful people with zero humanity.

It's fucking horrible. When all these protests started happening a while ago I immediately set up a monthly donation to the RNLI. DH cancelled his. I'll let you work out how this is going.

No time for these protestors or what they stand for.

Just to add though - if you are concerned about the importance of the RNLI, then be selective about where you choose to stay and holiday when near the coast.

The increase in properties being bought as AirBNB type holiday rentals has meant that it is becoming impossible for volunteers who need to buy or rent locally to be able to find somewhere to live which is close enough to the station to get to from home when the pager goes off.

It's creating a generation of RNLI volunteers who can only viably be on duty while at work, if their workplace is near the lifeboat station - but are too fr away when they go home.

If you care, then always book a hotel, or a private stay located well inland. And drive and park your cars carefully on narrow roads near the coast as well so they can get through quickly.