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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Man-handling climate change protestors

999 replies

Leafyhouse · 20/06/2019 23:17

Anyone else watch with horror as a climate change protestor was forcefully removed by Mark Field from the Mansion House speech? I mean, I'm no fan of political activism, 'direct action' and so on, but she wasn't presenting him with any direct threat, just shouting and being annoying. AIBU to think that his behaviour was totally unacceptable there?

OP posts:
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sue51 · 20/06/2019 23:21

I was shocked at how aggressive and over the top his actions were. There was no need to manhandle her so roughly.

Original poster
Leafyhouse · 20/06/2019 23:31

Here's a link to the video:

www.itv.com/news/2019-06-20/protesters-disrupt-philip-hammonds-speech-at-mansion-house/

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 20/06/2019 23:32

Just seen this on Twitter. Appallling

Finerumpus · 20/06/2019 23:36

Nah. Have you ever been on a protest?

wherearemychickens · 20/06/2019 23:38

I was shocked by it - it's worse in the longer video as it's clear she would have just walked past him. It's assault, surely?

S1naidSucks · 20/06/2019 23:38

The way he shoved her against that pillar and holding her by the back of the neck. Grabbing a woman and manhandling her that seemed to come so naturally to him. It would make you wonder about his personal relationships. How was he not arrested for assault?

SilverySurfer · 20/06/2019 23:41

Don't think his actions were unreasonable at all, he just pushed her out of the room. It's not like he punched her.

HelenaDove · 20/06/2019 23:46

His hand was gripping the back of her neck

wherearemychickens · 20/06/2019 23:49

If throwing a milkshake at someone gets you 150 hours of community service, what does pushing someone up against a pillar and grabbing them by the neck get you?

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/06/2019 23:51

Don't think his actions were unreasonable at all

What on earth is the justification? It's violence.

She hasn't been on enough protests though. Drop and sack of potatoes so they have to drag you. Wink

HelenaDove · 20/06/2019 23:52

Good point @wherearemychickens Will be watching to see.........

Orangeballon · 21/06/2019 00:53

What was the point of protesters being there. We have already committed to zero emissions policy. I would have been very annoyed with them too.

Gomyownway · 21/06/2019 05:00

Being annoyed with someone is not enough reason to assault them.

RedForShort · 21/06/2019 05:17

Yes, SilverySurfer, he 'pushed' her. I somewhat suspect if you where 'pushed' out of the way by someone who was annoyed you were there you might not like it.

On the milkshake-throwing side of things, i do suspect that all the what-abouter who angrily reacted to the milkshake ("What if it was a woman/leftie/'remoaner? Imagine the reaction then!! Everyone would be up-in-arms/angry.") are about to discover what would happen; and I suspect the answer will bet far less will happen.

There's a bit of reaction on Twitter and his Wiki page was edited with a disparaging comment. She'll have to press charges for anything legal to occurs won't she?

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 21/06/2019 05:31

Looks like he’s had practice at this sort of thing. Angry

IAmAlwaysLikeThis · 21/06/2019 05:34

To the people saying it's not as issue, you know we live in a democracy, right?

Part of that is the right to peaceful protest.

That does not mean that men can grab women by the neck and force them out of a room.

I wonder if he'd have done it to a 6 foot 4 bloke?

adriennewillfly · 21/06/2019 06:49

As much as I hate the tories, that doesn't look that bad to me.

PregnantSea · 21/06/2019 06:50

If she wasn't being violent then he had no reason to be violent. The police can forcibly remove people in those sorts of situations if it's necessary - they are trained to do so in the proper way. We can't all just decide to take the law into our own hands because it's convenient.

recrudescence · 21/06/2019 06:56

Only acceptable if the protester posed an immediate risk to others’ safety.

TheQueef · 21/06/2019 07:00

How bad does it have to be? Does he have to swing a punch?
I'm surprised at the not that bad replies.

zippey · 21/06/2019 07:04

I think it was justified. It looks like what any eager security guard may have done. She had no business being there.

I think a milkshake is much worse than grabbing someone and ejecting them forcibly.

If you are going to engage in anti social behaviour then you have to expect something anti social happening to you! Man or woman!

floribunda18 · 21/06/2019 07:05

It does look absolutely awful and disprportionate, but it can be quite frightening if there is a trespasser and you don't know what they might do, so it could be reasonable force, legally speaking.

zippey · 21/06/2019 07:06

She wasn’t going to listen to him if he were to use words such as “listen you can’t be here, sorry pal you need to leave”. So the options were to let her protest or eject her out forcibly.

TattiePants · 21/06/2019 07:06

I’ve just watched the video and I’m shocked that anyone can say that it’s not too bad. He pushed her up against the pillar with force then held on to her neck! I also noticed out if everyone in the room, there was only one person - a woman - who seemed unhappy with his actions.

Notonthestairs · 21/06/2019 07:11

Don't understand some of these responses. She was walking past - all he had to do was stand up, block her path and call over security.