Are the people protesting in London mad?

[JKD1982]

I agree that what happened in the USA is appalling but why would anyone risk their own health and go against all the social distancing rules to protest in London? It won’t make a difference to what’s happened and could cause another crisis in London hospitals because people catch COVID.

AIBU thinking they are mad and there is a better way (from a laptop?) to express anger

especially when BAME are at higher risk of infection

Loving all the posts from white people so, soooooo concerned about black people's health. Just like southern slave holding whites were so, genuinely concerned that freeing blacks would tip them into poverty. It wasn't in their best interests to be free. White people were protecting them.

Just like white people are so concerned and seek to protect black people from themselves now.

Cynical as fuck. And racist.

While I 100% agree something needs to be done. I’m assuming those who protested and have children will ALL be sending their kids to school today?

So what should we do PicsInRed? Nothing? Shut up? What would be acceptable?

I don't want to protect black people in a paternalistic way, but I may have got it wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

I want white people to stop abusing and killing other human beings because of their colour. If they do abuse and kill them, I want them punished by the law of the land in the same way that a black person would be, Too much to ask? Probably.

Ah you meant worried about the threat from CV and protecting them from that. I misunderstood, sorry.

I agree Pics.

@larrygrylls

Source for the shocking statistic that the chance of being killed by the police in America is 1 in 1000 for black men:

www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-08-15/police-shootings-are-a-leading-cause-of-death-for-black-men

And the study the article references is here:

www.pnas.org/content/116/34/16793

The thing is this virus doesn't discriminate.

Actually it does. BAME are four times more likely to die than white people. www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/black-people-four-times-more-likely-to-die-from-covid-19-ons-finds
Therefore, all those black protestors are at more risk of catching it and being seriously ill or dying. It's sheer stupidity to protest at the moment as they are risking their life.

It's narrow minded to think the protests in the UK are expressively for what's happened in the US.

I am a black woman living in the UK and I'll tell you that I dont need to see another video of a black American man being killed by police to feel inspired to protest. I can list, right now, a whole forest of paper, reasons why I should protest about things that I have happened to me right here.

Covid is killing BAMEs in all forms and systematically so because of racism.

“If they do abuse and kill them, I want them punished by the law of the land in the same way that a black person would be, Too much to ask? Probably.”

Hasn’t the policeman responsible already been taken into custody and will be charged for the crime he committed?

OP you are literally the problem. Please educate yourself on the matter.

@loutypips

Yes, that point has been brought up several times.

But the protestors obviously believe that the issue at hand is important enough to take that risk - especially given that the risk of being killed by the police as a black man in America is 1 in 1000 - much higher than the risk of being killed by CV19, even amongst the BAME community.

Don’t add accusations of stupidity on top of everything else - they are unwarranted by the data and incredibly offensive to a community already marginalised and undermined by the system they live within.

@phoebesphalange HAHAHAHA your mum is from Kenya? Right, there we go. Absolutely can't be at best, ignorant or at worst, racist.

My dad is from Kenya. I am still Indian.

You're funny.

My Dc (not white) and a few of their friends ( white and black) went.

They went because as teenagers they have lived the constant stereotyping of black people. They have grown up with the constant stopping if the car for police checks, seeing their friends stop and searched, knowing that black friends live with being alert and being careful about their demeanour because I race. They have watched black friend s arrested and roughed up. Two of them called the police after having been kidnapped by a gang and then treated like criminals themselves when the police arrived (I witnessed this myself as they were U18. When I spoke up, calmly and politely, I was told I don’t know what I am talking about). They have seen heartfelt campaigns in our community where black deaths in police custody have left questions unanswered.

Following a series of reported black deaths in the US, perpetrated or not investigated by police, George Floyd’s death had them boiling over.

The demonstration that black lives are disposable
That there is actual hatred of black people
That they could see it happen here
That they do not trust the police
That they want people here to understand that black lives matter, it is the racism not the geography of where you are that is the issue.

They did write e mails, sign the petition, wrote to our MP, they donated money.

But when the march cropped up they were determined to be there,

They discussed the risks, wore masks, walked 4 miles there rather than get the bus.

They have been observing lock down.

They went with calm and dignity, no drink etc FFS.

Does it not occur to some posters here that if the quality of life you are defending with lockdown is riddled with danger and unease then you might be as likely to tackle that danger and unease as the virus?

@jkd1982 no he hasn't been charged for the crime he committed. PLEASE READ BEFORE MAKING OUTRAGEOUS STATEMENTS. He has been charged with third degree murder. Did you know that's the same as an abortion in some states?

Also, he was only charged when the uprising and petitioning began. He at first was just fired.

Hasn’t the policeman responsible already been taken into custody and will be charged for the crime he committed

Yes, but it took days. And after the disturbances started happening. To begin with all that happened was that they were put on ‘administrative leave’. Then they were simply fired. Then, once protests started, they were charged. But alongside the charge the police put out a series of messages about George’s alleged criminal activity, quickly dispelled lies about the events leading up to his arrest ex.

I.e they immediately began a smear campaign to protect the police and attempt to justify what happened.

And the very idea that they expect the public to accept summary execution in the street for an alleged crime if padding an invalid cheque only goes to further demonstrate the depth of racism in the U.S.

Covid is killing BAMEs in all forms and systematically so because of racism.

Have you not heard of genetics?

I forget and always get angry with myself for bothering to engage in any race related issues on Mumsnet.

The precious NHS you have been clapping for is full of BAMEs who in many ways, will relate to recent events. If you cared, you too would use your privileged voices, in supporting the cause and seeing how important it is (that people would literally march during a pandemic)....

Empathy is even too much to ask for while you are in your home. Pity ✌🏾

Stupid and selfish people can express their anger in other ways

Oh the irony 🙄

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 for @africansassenach

@mrsBtheparker

Sources that there is a genetic basis for CV19 disproportionately killing BAME people?

Source for ‘many of whom are there simply to riot’?

As for suggesting supporters here are hypocrites if they also thought Cummings was in the wrong, well that’s just you being unable to see nuance and context. I would try and explain it, but it would be a waste of words for anyone who doesn’t already see the difference between the rules being broken ‘just in case’ by a privileged white man who helped devise them and an upswell of emotion from a community marginalised and brutalised by state sanctioned racism. So I won’t bother.

@mrsBtheparker

Oh, and ‘that poor man’ was George Floyd.

At least have the decency to remember his name when you’re attempting to minimise his experience.

No they're not mad, we should feel outraged and show solidarity with the people of America. Despite the virus I think it is important to demonstrate that enough is enough, it is 2020 and we shouldn't have a two tier society.

Who remembers Joy Gardener? en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joy_Gardner

I saw her Mother talk at a meeting, this affected me for life. I am mixed race and and was one of the first women trade union stewards in my branch back in 1989, there were 4 of us out of 50. I have been in many protests and been at ones where full scale riots have broken out, been on a bus that was attacked with Molotov cocktails during the anti criminal justice bill demo.

The problem with any protest however valid that protest is it can kick off at anytime. Ever been in a crowd where people start to panic, you cannot get away. You can be the most sensible, respectful human with the best interests of society and still get crushed, trapped etc. Throw in an easily transferable virus that you get in close contact and it’s crazy.

I know that fire in the belly , I know what it’s like to want to change the world, I know what its like to be racially abused but cannot agree with any mass protests even for the most valid of reasons.

Why not start a thread moaning about the people on the beaches?
I think the demos in the UK and other parts of Europe are sending a strong message that enough is enough now. They were outside and no kissing or hugging going on.

George Floyd's murder is devastating. That the uniformed man did it whilst being filmed and thought he would get away with it, would have got away with it, if not for the US protests, was a step too far. His complicit colleagues still haven't been arrested as far as I know.

The stats re: police and black people in the UK are not great. I hope the UK police will learn lessons that policing mustn't contain racial profiling and overuse of force needs to stop.
And I hope they come to that conclusion willingly after seeing the deep hurt and pain that black people are feeling.