Man-handling climate change protestors

[Leafyhouse]

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?

I do think however it's caused a storm and not the one GP intended

If a stranger walked behind me and I had no idea if they had a knife or acid or a bag of rotten eggs to throw at me I would of done the same

Where was she holding this " knife or acid or a bag of rotten eggs"? In her tiny handbag? And for all you know, anyone who passes you on the street could have "a knife or acid or a bag of rotten eggs". In fact, someone might fear you were carrying a "knife or acid or a bag of rotten eggs" on the bus, and might feel entitled to assault you by the same logic.

if it had been a tall female athlete doing it to a short lightweight male most people would have laughed.

Well, I won't presume to speak for 'most people' but I wouldn't laugh. And what's with all these 'what ifs'? It wasn't a female athlethe and a weedy man, so why all the hypotheticals?

Because they’re clutching at straws.

Oh my gosh that vid of Esther mcVey’s speech is a revealing contrast isn’t it. I’m also quite shocked by how many people on this thread are seeking to defend the MP - why? What vested interest could anybody have in saying ‘oh well we weren’t here so we can’t say, I’d probation the same’, is it just total contempt for climate protesting?

@PinguDance

I do believe that is the case. Though obviously I can't prove it, I think many people here are so unperturbed by what was clearly a disproportionate use of force because they do not think climate change activists have the right to protest, or at least nothing more "provocative" than handing out leaflets outside Tesco. And maybe not even that.

Using force and aggression shows the MP for what he is and grabbing a woman by the throat is not reasonable force it's violent manhandling, he needs to stop bloody showing off in front of his male chums keep his grubby paws to himself and just call security like a normal human being would.

Climate change protesters have a right to protest. Loudly. And MPs have a right to expect proper personal security.

they do not think climate change activists have the right to protest, or at least nothing more "provocative" than handing out leaflets outside Tesco. And maybe not even that.

Hi purple,

I can't speak for the assembled masses of oppressors, but speaking for myself I'm all for their protests, and I'm all for them causing disruption, and indeed trespassing. Nothing ever got done by writing letters to the Daily Telegraph. We are sleepwalking towards catastrophe where climate change is concerned. Equally protesters and trespassers of all varieties have to acknowledge that people whom they disrupt are entitled to use proper legal means against them, and good luck to them too!

And MPs have a right to expect proper personal security.

Everyone has a right to proper personal security. MPs don't have special rights in that regard.

And can you tell me how, exactly, this MP's personal security was threatened by the presence of an unarmed peaceful protester?

The Secret Barrister and Jim Davidson.

twitter.com/BarristerSecret/status/1142022381239750656

*A dreadful example for a Foreign Office minister to set, shortly after lecturing other countries on letting women "speak freely"

• he's made us a laughing stock. Again*

Perhaps he was auditioning for the role of foreign secretary in a Boris-led government.

Equally protesters and trespassers of all varieties have to acknowledge that people whom they disrupt are entitled to use proper legal means against them, and good luck to them too!

I'm sure this woman was fully expecting to have been forcibly removed from the premises by professional security officials, as in the Esther McVey incident described above. That would have been the proper legal response.

For an individual - not a trained security officer - to take it upon himself to apply excessive force to her certainly is not 'proper' even if it may be legal, though the latter remains to be seen.

So much shit from both sides.

She was just walking
to
she could have killed someone.

You couldn't pay someone to write this bullshit.

How did anyone know she was unarmed. They hoped she was. And that the other protesters were.
If people are afraid to be MPs because they don't have proper protection it's a problem for all of us.

Bollocks did he think she was armed. She was walking straight past him and he was there, ready to 'sort that young lady out'. If he thought she was armed he would have been calling out, looking around for backup, not looking ahead frogmarching her out of there by the scruff of the neck.

As someone said on another thread, he looked very comfortable doing that.

It was bloody obvious she was unarmed unless she’d got a machete in her knickers

How did anyone know she was unarmed. They hoped she was. And that the other protesters were

For someone who's been on this thread for hours - comparing peaceful protests to the Brighton bombs IIRC - you should know we've been over this. Firstly, Greenpeace activists are not known for using weapons. Secondly, everyone there had to pass through a metal detector. Thirdly, where was she hiding those 'arms'? And finally, the way Field accosted her - leaving her hands free - would have still left her able to reach that steakknife or 14 calibre pistol you've all dreamt up.

If people are afraid to be MPs because they don't have proper protection it's a problem for all of us.

If people like Mark Field is 'afraid' to be an MP that's certainly not a problem.

But I note you are still refusing to answer my question: What threat did this woman pose to his personal security?

For an individual - not a trained security officer - to take it upon himself to apply excessive force to her certainly is not 'proper' even if it may be legal, though the latter remains to be seen.

Hi Purple, we're in agreement on this point! 🍾

In fact I'd go further and say without doubt it definitely would not be legal.

I have seen an article on the news with everyone being wise after the event following a tragic event. Which is what people like to do.

He did the right thing

I have seen an article on the news with everyone being wise after the event following a tragic event. Which is what people like to do.

Right. So if I take a dislike to you and 'fear' you may be a threat to me, I'd be quite right to assault you? Because you never know eh?

The woman posed no threat. You know it, I know it and he knew it.

He did the right thing

And the reason for this is?

So now we can all attack strangers walking behind us if they have a bag? Curious. I look forward to your court case

And the reason for this is?

Because trespasser.