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

[serenada]

I was in central London and Hoxton today. The park in Hoxton had lots of sunbathers in it. Central London (and I saw the protesters near Vauxhall Bridge) had people who were not part of the protest wandering around. Quite significant amounts - lots of cyclists on the pavements.

It occurred to me that the bus drivers I had were black and the food/drink suppliers that were open were all POC.

I saw a few people obviously walking home from work in uniforms - some healthcare, some retail.

This city is being held together on the ground by those people at the moment. If POC came out today to protest, it is with the full knowledge that they are at a higher risk than white people and still they felt they had to do something. I think they were brave.

Nobody complains about the tourists and other people in central London. The protesters wore masks, the atmosphere was very calm.

I don't know. We have to start seeing this through the lense of experience, not what 'should be'.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

Why did you do that if it wasn't busy and the protest had ended?

Because I got separated from the person I was with and had to wait for them. Then we decided to take the opportunity to have a socially distanced chat, since we hadn’t seen each other in weeks.

(And yes I do live in London. I can’t cycle and Trafalgar Square is too far to walk. But I did see a significant number of protestors leaving on bikes/Boris bikes, which implies local.)

[ToffeeYoghurt]

don’t know why posters are so invested in pushing the “today’s protestors weren’t from London” agenda but there is absolutely ZERO basis to make that claim.
Balance of probability. Past protests. And the fact that Londoners, particularly black ones, have suffered so much from Covid that few would be stupid and selfish enough to indulge in a mass gathering right now.

Where's the evidence for your claim that they were all from London? In addition to spending your day simultaneously camped outside both Charing Cross and Waterloo (two places at the same time??) from 5-6am until midnight, you also personally know every single person from today's mass gathering?

[WhatwouldLangdo]

I'm glad this horrific crime hasn't gone unnoticed by the people. And peacefully protesting or canvassing to change laws where needed are essential

Jesus Christ. Have you seen any footage of the socially distanced peaceful protesters being attacked with tear gas? Let's not pretend anyone in power gives a single fuck about anything happening peacefully. And canvassing?! Black people have fought for equality for generations, where has peacefulness gotten us? Murdered by those sworn to protect us.

people shouldn't be breaking laws, damaging property

Property is definitely the important thing here.. Dr Martin Luther King Jr said, "A riot is the language of the unheard." Who are you to judge people who have been oppressed, violated and silenced for hundreds of years?

and causing more innocent deaths (mostly down to an appalling lack of social distancing) to prove their point.

Prove their point?!! Amaud Arbery was chased by attackers in a truck before being shot to death by the 2 white men. Sounds like it could have happened in the 1940s but it was 3 months ago. Black people are still being lynched. It is abhorrent that you'd call that proving a point.

I very much hope that we can find a better, more productive way to ensure this awful thing never happens again

We aren't doing anything because you are an enabler. If you cared one single jot about the black lives lost through racism and state sanctioned murder, you'd be as angry as the protesters are.

I cannot believe you'd actually tell black people how they should be protesting. Your post is sickening.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

ToffeeYoghurt you clearly have an agenda.

I’m not going to engage with such inflammatory, disingenuous nonsense. Feel free to twist things all you like to serve your agenda, but there is zero evidence that the protestors were mainly non-Londoners and evidence suggesting they were.

I was there and you weren’t. Bottom line.

Some of the comments by other posters claiming the protestors were drunk or using it as a rave are simply ignorant lies from people who weren’t even there.


The last thread was deleted because it was full of racism and lies. It’s frankly goady as hell to re-start the exact same thread again.

[Pixxie7]

Their not mad just angry, they have a just cause. However if they spread the virus and people die are they any better?

[WhatwouldLangdo]

However if they spread the virus and people die are they any better?

Are you seriously comparing black protesters with the scumbags who murder them?
Fuck right off.

[bgcexx]

One thing to be angry, another thing to be stupid. While we can all agree it’s heart breaking and unfair. But to protest towards saving these people’s lives by risking other lives in the process of doing so...

I agree all countries need to stick together, this isn’t something solely for the US to protest and defend. But at the same time, it breaks my heart that My parents aren’t even able to hold their first grandson. But yet people are out there in large gatherings. We aren’t talking 20, 30, 40 people. we are talking hundreds side by side.
People kick off about gatherings at the beach, but defend this? Reasoning or not it’s still the same action.
I haven’t seen my nan and grandad in so long. They won’t be able to meet their great grandson for a while. Longer should this pandemic continue..Especially increase.

While I agree it’s absolutely disgusting what’s happened - not just to this one man but ALL the other lives that have been taken unjustifiably by these causes. I do think the protest was 20 steps too far. No matter the reasoning.

[ToffeeYoghurt]

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/07/black-people-four-times-more-likely-to-die-from-covid-19-ons-finds

I do indeed have an agenda. Against genuine racism. Which includes privileged virtue signallers putting black Londoners at increased risk. Why protest in London? One of the most diverse cities in the world.
What's the aim?

Mass gathering in London at present puts black lives at risk.

[ChocolatelyAsFuck]

Why protest in London?

Because we live here. Where do you suggest we go?

There were similar protests all over the UK. I have friends who attended the Manchester protest today. The London protest was biggest and garnered more media attention because London is a much bigger and more populous city.

What's the aim?
You’re asking why black Londoners are protesting, in their own city, against systemic murder of black people?

[gluteustothemaximus]

Timing of these riots in a pandemic is scaring the bejesus out of me.

[Aridane]

AIBU thinking they are mad

YANBU - they are - rightly -=angry!

[Aridane]

I'd rather see people crowd the streets and protest for a worthy cause than see people crowd the beaches for a fucking tan.

Hell yeah

[frazzledfatty]

You’re asking why black Londoners are protesting, in their own city, against systemic murder of black people?

to kill other black people apparently

[WhatwouldLangdo]

@frazzledfatty

And they wonder why people are angry?
Racism is alive and well. I'll be protesting when it gets to my city. Covid or not.
Could not give less of a shit about anyone who thinks I shouldn't be doing it, especially white people who've no clue about their own privilege.
I'm over being nice.

[MorganKitten]

I agree it’s absolutely disgusting what’s happened - not just to this one man but ALL the other lives that have been taken unjustifiably by these causes. I do think the protest was 20 steps too far. No matter the reasoning.

This is from Facebook but shows how this is not just one man

I have privilege as a white person because I can do all of these things without thinking twice:

I can go birding (#ChristianCooper)

I can go jogging (#AmaudArbery)

I can relax in the comfort of my own home (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson)

I can ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride)

I can have a cellphone (#StephonClark)

I can leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards)

I can play loud music (#JordanDavis)

I can sell CDs (#AltonSterling)

I can sleep (#AiyanaJones)

I can walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown)

I can play cops and robbers (#TamirRice)

I can go to church (#Charleston9)

I can walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin)

I can hold a hair brush while leaving my own bachelor party (#SeanBell)

I can party on New Years (#OscarGrant)

I can get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland)

I can lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile)

I can break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones)

I can shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford)

I can have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher)

I can read a book in my own car (#KeithScott)

I can be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover)

I can decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese)

I can ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans)

I can cash a check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood)

I can take out my wallet (#AmadouDiallo)

I can run (#WalterScott)

I can breathe (#EricGarner)

I can live (#FreddieGray)

I CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING MURDERED (#GeorgeFloyd)

[Aridane]

The thing is this virus doesn't discriminate.

Except it sort of does

[ToffeeYoghurt]

Ok then. Two birds, one bush. Protest on the beach...

You’re asking why black Londoners are protesting, in their own city, against systemic murder of black people?
The numerous photos showed clearly the majority of protestors were white.

Again I ask. What's the aim? Why the mass gathering in a city with a very large black population? Given black people are FOUR times more likely to die of Covid than white people. Why do you wish to increase that risk? Concerned about racism? Really??
Don't think so. I've been a lone voice at times pointing out the indirect racism involved in easing lockdown without precautions other countries have taken. Because that is the immediate risk to black people in the UK. Yet not a whisper from the oh so angry self righteous young woke.

[frazzledfatty]

@whatwouldlangdo I'm actually quite shocked by some responses on here.

@morgankitten save your breath. On the Amaud thread one poster was asking why he fought back when confronted by 2 strangers with guns. That's the mentality you are dealing with.

[Aridane]

Why protest in London?

There were protests elsewhere in the UK

[WhatwouldLangdo]

Because that is the immediate risk to black people in the UK.

Are you black?

[Aridane]

The numerous photos showed clearly the majority of protestors were white.

Eh?