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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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5
FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 14:50

But they do in keeping the peace so can arrest when required.

Hi Smile, you're right but a peaceful protest is not a breach of the peace. They would not chuck out peaceful protesters. BoP requires harm, or the threat of it.

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 14:52

She wasn’t even injured What a low bar we have.

PinkieTuscadero · 21/06/2019 14:53

Also note she was cross to have been stopped...

She was very crossed to have been assaulted. You really are making progress.

Baby steps.

GirlsBlouse17 · 21/06/2019 14:55

A lot of wealthy & powerful people from our ruling elite, some MPs, had their dinner spoiled

And would you have said the same about them having their sleep spoilt when the Grand Hotel was blown up?

If security hadn't failed so badly, he would not have had to have got involved in stopping her from getting closer to a senior government minister. He wasnt to know if she had terrorist intentions.

cupofteaandcake · 21/06/2019 14:55

The force he used was disproportionate, frankly he's lucky she didn't bash her head against that pillar and/or was more seriously injured. She had walked along a long line of seated men and rather than get up and block her way he acted very very aggressively. The look on his face says it all.

There is a video on Shelgagh Fogherty's twitter showing what was going on in the whole room. There was no violence from the women, they were not acting in a threatening way.

There have been 2 instances recently with men entering events with politiicans. The first was Theresa May and the second Ester McVey - the reaction to the audience on both occassions was passive. Interesting.

I hope the police prosecute him.

Buster72 · 21/06/2019 15:01

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48717002
If anyone is still confused about what will happen iro the possible investigation and prosecution, please read that article. There is an input from a law professor. I'll take his viewpoint long before any random person on MN

Feelbad1 · 21/06/2019 15:05

They announced that they are Greenpeace. What part of 'peace' means terrorism. They had the Environment urgency thing around them. She was holding her phone and some papers, clearly indicating that she had some manifesto or something to be read. Nope, the she was dangerous thing does not wash.

There were other people there - security I think, and they did not manhandle the women. Just blocked their way without touching them.

It was horrible!

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 21/06/2019 15:06

And would you have said the same about them having their sleep spoilt when the Grand Hotel was blown up

And yet apparently it's those of us who're shocked by Field's action that are indulging in hyperbole...Hmm

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 15:07

I'll take his viewpoint long before any random person on MN

A touching faith in law professors, they argue more than Mumsnet posters Grin

Helendee · 21/06/2019 15:12

Good for him, if a nutter came flying towards me I would put them down!

TantricTwist · 21/06/2019 15:12

@Buster72 Thank you for posting the link.

I feel relieved knowing the law has common sense in situations like this.

Pjsandbaileys · 21/06/2019 15:13

The legal Definition of assault I unwanted physical contact upon a person, in that context it was assault with mitigating circumstances of intrusion, verbal protest etc. He at no point even tried to verbally communicate with her which would be an equal and reasonable action to take. If he had after he had spoken to her made any moves to cause harm or threats I wholeheartedly would have been on in his corner. He was not security staff (who interesting do not have any more right than the general public to physically remove someone unless under DIRECT threat either have been pushed or the verbals they have training and insurance) or the Police and even that can't use force without just reason.

TantricTwist · 21/06/2019 15:14

All these protestors have done is ensure that our taxes will now have to go towards funding more security for these types of events, great, thanks for that ladies.

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 21/06/2019 15:16

Well good thing she was neither 'a nutter' or 'flying towards him' then, isn't it helen?

Alsohuman · 21/06/2019 15:16

Security at those events should be funded by those who attend them. God knows, they can afford it.

Catlady173 · 21/06/2019 15:18

I hate all violence, but frankly, I think he was quite right, after the murder of that lady MP , they must all be on edge, and let's face it, she breached security at a private dinner, and fanatics don't wear signs annonuncing their intentions. If it had been a man, it would have been ok to frogmarch him out but not a woman? And it was frogmarched, not strangulation.
She wants to be a bold protester then take the consequences, don't cry about violence against women when you are the one who should not have been there in the first place. My only question is, where the hell was his proper security , to have allowed her to storm in like that in the first place?
I am not a Tory, but everyone is entitled to go about their lives in safety, without these idiots accosting them ,peacefully or not.

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 21/06/2019 15:18

Oh the 'but myyyyyyy taxxxxxxxeeeesssssss' whine. Surprised it took 5 pages tbh.

PinkieTuscadero · 21/06/2019 15:20

If it had been a man, it would have been ok to frogmarch him out but not a woman?

Except the two times mentioned where it was a man no frog marching/neck grabbing took place. Funny that...

thethethethethe · 21/06/2019 15:20

Why do people despise this woman for protesting? Are you seriously not worried about climate change, for your and your children, if no-one else? What are YOU doing about it?

DoctorDread · 21/06/2019 15:22

@Catlady173 she wasn't alone. She was with a group who were escorted off. If you look at the footage there was nothing threatening in her body language. It was an organised protest. It wasn't aggressive. You may not agree with people protesting but slamming someone against a hard surface and aggressively handling them for exercising their right to protest is classed as excessive force.

FiddlesticksAkimbo · 21/06/2019 15:23

Oh the 'but myyyyyyy taxxxxxxxeeeesssssss' whine. Surprised it took 5 pages tbh

It only took two before it became a feminist issue. Three for racism Grin

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 21/06/2019 15:23

Her name was Jo Cox catlady. Don't use her to support your spurious argument if you can't even be arsed to remember her name.

And, the protestor was literally wearing a sign.

And no-one has mentioned strangulation.

And there was no 'storming'.

And Fields wouldn't have done it if it was a bloke.

HTH.

Buster72 · 21/06/2019 15:23

at no point even tried to verbally communicate with her which would be an equal and reasonable action to take

There is a longer video doing the rounds were all the protesters are asked to leave.

DoctorDread · 21/06/2019 15:24

And @Catlady173 - ALL Tyne protesters were wearing the same outfits. They were very clearly visible as protesters.

MaudBaileysGreenTurban · 21/06/2019 15:25

I mean, I'm glad you're having so much fun on this thread Fiddlesticks. Racism, sexism and aggression are so fucking hilarious, after all.

Swipe left for the next trending thread