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

If people want to protest they should either properly socially distance or go to America and socially isolate on return as per rules.

Not fair to put more UK citizens in danger for something that is nothing to do with the UK.

MadameMarie

The fact that so many people in the UK think that racism against black people, based in the idea of white supremacy, has 'nothing to do with the UK' is partly why so many demonstrators felt they need to make a visible statement.

There is racism against black people here.
There is racist violence against black people here.
Huge numbers of African-Caribbean people here are here because of the same history that saw people of African heritage end up in America - it isn't a pretty history. Global solidarity is needed to ensure that racist violence is not seen as acceptable anywhere.

There is such a lack of education, empathy and understanding.

@yinmnblue

No doubt there is racism here, but not sure during a pandemic is the time to make that point. How many BAME key workers have died because of covid? That In itself is a tragedy but more lives are being put at risk now.

No doubt there is racism here, but not sure during a pandemic is the time to make that point.

I cannot believe people expect black people to wait for justice. It's no one's place to tell protesters to wait. They have waited hundreds of years. Do you realise the blood on the hands of those who tell them to "wait"?

And it's not "making a point". It's demanding to be treated with the decency that white people are automatically given. It's demanding not to have our lives taken through purposeful and calculated actions. It's demanding not to be hated for the colour of our skin.

I just want to say that I saw more social distancing and masks on the protesters/marchers yesterday than I did on the tourists/other people in London. I was lost and went the wrong way, ending up in another part of London by accident. The focus is on the wrong thing here, imo. The protesters distances themselves and stayed in clusters.

A lot of protesters were white, for the record.

I get that mixing groups of people from all over London is not wise at the moment. I also think that the black community must be thinking ‘hang on a second, we are expected to do disproportionately do high risk jobs at the moment (bus drivers/healthcare workers) and can see white people on beaches, etc but I can’t voice my frustration at what happened to George Floyd?’.

There is no right or wrong here. And it is interesting that on a topic of looting (happened in US, not here) we are still putting a focus on black decision making from a white perspective.

Sorry, I’m on the other thread about looting and have mixed them up but my point still stands.

I'm guessing you are not black op

MadameMarie would it surprise you to know that black key workers, including NHS staff and transport workers, were on yesterday's march?

Mad as in ‘angry’ then yup, people are fucking raging. Firstly, from what I saw on TV, there were attempts to distance and wear masks. Secondly, if people are going to be in a crowd, I’d far rather they did it for reasons like this than a “need“ to top up their tan on Bournemouth beach.
I support the protestors. There will always be the minority who are there to cause trouble but it really is the minority. Don’t tarnish the entire cause by a few utter muppets who wanted to loot a few shops.

I’m far more fuming about those tombstoning into the sea by packed beaches.

I’m uneasy about the mass gathering to protest but I think so many Black people have just fucking had enough of being treated like shit, and then you add in the sickening provocation of Donald Trump and his looting/shooting comments...

I would prefer people didn’t protest en masse during a pandemic lockdown but I find it hard to judge them for it.

I'm fuming myself at the arseholes packing out beaches or refusing to socially distance in parks. These people just don't give a shit.

People have a human right protest IMO but also IMO if it must be done during the pandemic then socially distance.

This virus does not discriminate. Mass gatherings will undo all the good work done to protect the NHS and the elderly. Any protest for any reason NOW at this critical time, is irresponsible.

*Let that sink in. 1 in 1000.

The death rates for CV19 are nowhere close, even in BAME communities*

I am sorry to go off at a tangent slightly and I don't disagree with the demonstrations and I will say I am white so I think it is up to black people to decide if they fell that demonstrating against the appalling racism they suffer daily is worth the risk.

However I have to point out that we have close to 60,000 excess deaths in the UK compared to this time last year [[https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2020/may/29/excess-deaths-uk-has-one-highest-levels-europe excess deaths]] With a population of 67 million, that is not far off 1 in 1000 extra deaths in less than 3 months. I just wanted people to understand that fact.

Don't think it's right but looking at social media and Tory Mps on Twitter etc, they've already got their ready made excuse for a second wave now, especially if it hits London in a few weeks.

Any protest for any reason NOW at this critical time, is irresponsible.

Again, there is no right time for a BLM protest because there shouldn't have to be one. But here we are, hundreds of years into black oppression and white people still feel it's their place to dictate the right way to challenge it.

I honestly can't bring myself to discuss race with white people any more. There is a complete refusal to even acknowledge the impact this is having on the whole race.

And the irony of people preaching concern over unnecessary deaths

I'm absolutely done.

I think what annoys me is that the protests will be used to explain a ‘second wave’ and therefore be demonized/vilified when the wave is not caused entirely by them but by VE Day/easing of lockdown/beach trips etc

Yes, idiotic and stupid.

@ChilliCheese123

I think what annoys me is that the protests will be used to explain a ‘second wave’ and therefore be demonized/vilified when the wave is not caused entirely by them but by VE Day/easing of lockdown/beach trips etc

These protests are a godsend for the government. Let them off the hook when we get a second wave.

There is a complete refusal to even acknowledge the impact this is having on the whole race

This.

I’m far more fuming about those tombstoning into the sea by packed beaches.

I’m uneasy about the mass gathering to protest but I think so many Black people have just fucking had enough of being treated like shit, and then you add in the sickening provocation of Donald Trump and his looting/shooting comments...

I would prefer people didn’t protest en masse during a pandemic lockdown but I find it hard to judge them for it.

Couldn't have put it better Rooster.

Not mad at all. It's not nice to use mental health stigma labels against people - especially when they're clearly just trying to bring some justice to this messed up world. I couldn't stop crying when I heard what the police had done to George Floyd. Now I'm just angry. Anger can be channelled constructively and I hope it is.

If the price for staying Covid free is allowing hideous murders to go unchecked, it's not worth it.