Anyone want to name an example of a protest march that a) acheived its aim...

[SpringchickenGoldBrass]

within living memory and b) achieved its aim better and quicker because some fuckwits people actually took their very small DC along?

For your information, I've been on several protests throughout my life, but always on an issue by issue basis and never on an "I fancy bashing the government and having a bit of a ruck" basis.

thx has a point UQD. All marches are different, we as responsible parents weigh up the options and choose whether or not to take our children.

Why should anyone have the right to call all parents who go with children on marches fuckwits. So a march to save a local nursery shouldn't involve children for example?

For the record if I was able to march yesterday my three children would have been with me (3, 5 and 5). However, when I marched with the students some months ago my children were definately not with me.

spiderslegs.... me.

I was there yesterday because my daughter has lost all additional pre school support (she has additional needs), she's now six months overdue for a cardiac scan and is not being seen until JUNE, she has orthoptist appointments cancelled and scheduled for SIX months later.

My sons have lost their Aiming High for Disabled Children buddy scheme (they also have additional needs).

The government also want to reform DLA and change it to PIP, whilst getting rid of 20% of claimants. Being that fraud on this is practically non existent that means cutting those in genuine need. Oh, and if you have a wheelchair you'll be considered 'able to mobilise' and therefore get your PIP stopped.

Too bloody right I was there.

firstsupermum, you know what went on do you?
good... then you'd know that it was a carnival atmosphere, lovely peaceful march....

shame the media had to make it look like there were riots all day eh?

SGB and UD have no point and are behaving like nasty little sceptics with not a lot of knowledge over these things. I wasn't on yesterdays event but been on many marches/demonstrations and events, some violent, some not. Got a phone call from a colleague this morning who said the march was fantastic and she feels motivated more than before to actively resist ConDem cuts.
So if that is how it makes people feel, then there is a point to mass protest.
She didn't have any children with her but she indicates she saw no trouble and a total of 10 policepeople. For a march of 300,000.
Red-blooded. class war hatred. Get back into your own fantsy UD. Or your Sunday Mail supplement.

"I fancy bashing the government and having a bit of a ruck"

Sure this happens but not on all marches. I would argue that these people are not the problem however and blaming them and worrying about "wanky Socialist Worker types" distracts us from the real problem namely, we do not live in a democracy, we are not all in it together and our politicians (all parties, nobody escapes this) need to be called to account. How else can we do that but demonstrate?

Glittaknickaz that's terrible.

Agree with thx1138 - as a nation we don't protest enough, we take everything that's thrown at us, yet whinge and moan about it from the comfort of our armchairs. we need to be more proactive and take to the streets in our millions - not hundreds. ( peacefully )
regarding the issue of children, it very much depends on what the march is about, but if we're talking yesterdays one, if they're old enough to walk for fairly long periods, then fine.

Having said that, I think some marches are a complete waste of time ( The Jarrow march being a prime example )

Some memory there carmina......

but accepting things and being all deferential is the British way. The GB public appear to like to be lorded over and told they are lucky to have what they have by those who have much more.

It is, isn't it?
Hence why I was fired up into protesting. It's the first protest I have taken part in on a national level, went to a small local one a few years back, so yes I was a little nervous.

Thing is this government does not give a shit about what has happened and is happening to my kids, and to other people with disabilities and their carers. I had to represent the five of us alone, and I feel so good for having done that.

The trouble didn't start until the main march was all but over. I did see paint on F&M, Santander, Lloyds Bank & the Ritz but nothing more than that, I believe they went back after the march had been through for the F&M occupation and for the fires etc. They weren't main marchers anyway.

It really angers me that all those half million or so people who marched peacefully are being ignored for the sake of a few hundred yobs who have now got ALL the attention and detract from what the march was really all about.

I can't believe how the media coverage has so obviously done a number on some of the posters here.

Well, to answer the OP it depends what you think the aim of the March is.

Lots of people feel very strongly about what is happening - I mentioned this on the other thread but people don't travel (in some cases) hundreds of miles to something like this on the basis on a whim. A protest like this is way for people to demonstrate their strength of feeling.

Personally I think it's great to see that people care enough to do something.

I don't agree that taking ypur child along is 'fuckwitted' at all. The TUC who organised it were at pains to make this an inclusive event and people who've attended say it was.

Also, what SGM said.

I organised a protest against cutting funding for something dear to me in my local area, and wrote and delivered a petition to the local council offices. It got about 300 people in the streets, about 2000 signatures, loads of press attention and the cuts were cancelled

So yes, quite simply, protest works. I think you're incredibly naive if you think it doesn't - there are people up and down the country organising small but effective protests like mine.

And look at ones that you'd perhaps describe as ineffective - the Iraq War march, for example. Ok the govt didn't immediately pull out all troops, but it made them fiercely aware of public opinion, it's still talked about now and undoubtedly affects future planning. In fact I need to serve up a because you seem very comfy in your naïveté.

You should know about our political history Rohanda - I know about the gunpowder plot but I wasn't one of the conspirators ( honestly )

It's staggering that more people aren't outraged by the impact of these cuts. I guess it's a case of "I'm alright Jack". At least when you go on a march you feel that enormous sense of community and possibility.

And re taking your child - it was a peaceful protest! The media always delight in showing tiny pockets of violence but when you consider the hundreds of thousands of protesters who were there, it's about as safe as a town centre.

I know you wren't carmina - I didn't see you at any of the meetings.....

Yaaaay Phooey. It's good to hear something positive amidst all the - "it's all shit, marches never change anything" apathetic bollocks.

I doubt that the reason for parents taking their DC along was politically motivated anyway, more likely a lack of childcare.

But if it was a political statement, I like to think that it was 'if you even bloody try kettling me and my child, you are even more brutal than I'd thought'

I don't know why kettling is legal, it's a massive abuse of human rights.

yes, agree it is the British way - but we need to change that, we need to get our kids involved more and take them with us - after all, it's their future we're defending.

Thank you thx I'd link to stuff about it and be more specific, but I'd blatantly out myself. It's the thing I am most proud of in my life thus far.

Rohanda (( whispers )) did we ever find the bastard that sent the anonymous letter?

I went yesterday and it was a lovely, peaceful atmosphere. I knew there would be trouble later on and I knew where the trouble spots would be because I did the research before I went and Got A Clue. The major danger to young children would have been boredom while we waited to get moving.