London Demonstrations

[nicsknackered]

Maybe iabu I don't know but I'm so pissed off at all of the photos online of the demonstrations taking place in London today. I know why they are doing it but ffs 15,000 people in a fucking park while we are only allowed to meet in a group of 6.

My kids have just returned to school for 2 days a week in small classes with only a few of their friends, my year 6er is missing everything and should be on a PGL trip this week. My husbands business is going down the drain but 15,000 fucking people can go and mix for a demonstration?

Let's just all wait for two weeks time shall we when the hospitals are busy again and people are screaming that their relatives are dying.

I'm really angry and fed up after seeing the photos, just feel like it's never going to end and we are never going to get away from these restrictions while other people don't give a shit.

Let's hope Boris Johnson's got a bunker set up somewhere as I don't think a fridge is gonna cut it this time.

Know they will all be fine there wearing masks!! Anyway did you not know London is a Covid free zone now!!

FFS I hate the ALL LIVES MATTER as some kind of counter point argument
Yes they do and they should. But that's the whole point - at the moment that's not the case. Black lives aren't mattering as evidenced by so many abhorrent and horrifying incidents, and that is the whole problem.

Suffragettes and the IRA were bombing by the ends of their campaigns. In the end, that was what worked. Bombs. Nothing else worked.

But it didn't work did it, not in either case. The vote for women would have been brought in without the fringe activism. It was part of ongoing electoral reform

They are not comparable anyway. The Suffragettes and the IRA did not have popular support. I think most people would support reform of the US law enforcement or at least admit there is a huge problem.

The death of George Floyd has been widely condemned and all the officers have been arrested and are in custody. You would have to be insane to watch the film footage and not see that the man was murdered.

Wow, the racism in this site is absolute madness.
Why are BAME more at risk of dying of covid because it's not fucking genetics its RACISM.

www.voice-online.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020/05/07/if-i-am-infected-with-covid-19-is-it-because-i-am-black/

All covid has done is magnify the the existing health, economic and social inequalities that have gone on for years.

So BAME are more at risk but after the PHE report were BAME added to the vulnerable list? Not a single recommendation was made, no practical steps, no financial investments or tangible steps to help reduce the mortality rate.

The same systemic racism that has and will continue to kill black people for many years to come.

It is OK for black people to be your essential workers, for them to put their lives at risk to save those of white people. But they cannot do the same so save their own?! The march is to save their own lives and those of the children.

If black people weren't subjected to persistent inequalities and racism then they wouldnt be marching in the first place.

Except its not just " Their lives" they are risking is it Vonny, its their family friends co workers communities lives but who cares how many people die as a result im sure their lives mattered or something.

Am shocked at what I am reading here!
PURE RACISM!!
Bravo!!

All covid has done is magnify the the existing health, economic and social inequalities that have gone on for years

This is a class issue. More working class people in urban areas are dying. Black and white.

There are differences between the USA and the UK that I don't think are being recognised on these threads. Class and ethnic demographics. The proportions of white and black people that are living in similar poverty in the UK, often in the same neighbourhoods. The USA is more segregated

Wow. The OP is pissed because one protest may lead to her parents having to stay in their homes a little longer due to a THEORETICAL increase in covid cases. Boo fucking hoo, I'm sure plenty of POC would love to trade with them. Honestly love check yourself. The fact that you are saying "I support BLM BUT.. makes you complicit in supporting a racist ideology. How about getting some fucking perspective and educating yourself before posting ignorant, MADE UP 'facts'. And yes people will assume you are white because no POC I know would EVER equate staying in the comfort of middle class suburbia in 'lockdown' with centuries of ingrained and violent prejudice and oppression. The ignorance and lack of insight on the thread is astounding.

There are differences between the USA and the UK that I don't think are being recognised on these threads.

Spot on. These differences are not widely understood in the UK in general. It's easy to assume that there's a comparison between the two countries because they have commonality in language, trading relationships etc but we are really talking about two very different societies.

Great post, @vonny63.

So many points

1. the suffragettes, contrary to the popular belief/film that came out did NOT help
   The cause. It pissed people off. The suffragists, combined with the women helping out during the war, is ultimately what won them the vote.

2. yes people dying from COVID are people’s babies but no one is squashing their windpipe so they can’t breathe. It’s a pandemic. It’s no ones fault. There is so much up in the air about what actually helps to prevent it. If YOU think it helps to stay inside and do lockdown, do it! These protests don’t stop you from
   Doing that. Especially PP with a baby - you are in lockdown for your baby. The people at the protestors made their decision. Which is how it should be.

3. seriously, I generally hate protests. I think they are stupid excuses for violence and it’s usually people who should be at work etc. This is different though. It’s really different. I don’t see how people don’t see that.

So, if you are afraid of getting covid because you are at risk and know it will probably kill you or your at risk relatives, and you therefore believe ANY mass gatherings to be irresponsible you are now labelled a racist.

It hasn't got anything to do with the cause of the protests. ANY mass gatherings are wrong at this time. They should not be allowed.

"Lock people down like caged animals and they will act like one"

We're the shielding over-represented at the demonstration? Because there isn't any other grouo who were advised never to leave their homes

So, if you are afraid of getting covid because you are at risk and know it will probably kill you or your at risk relatives, and you therefore believe ANY mass gatherings to be irresponsible you are now labelled a racist

Yes, that seems to be the case. Even if you support eg the moving and sociallymdistanced protests which also happened yesterday. Notably in Windrush Square, but also in other places.

It is a shame, if being anti racist involves having to support the breach of public health regs during a pandemic. When safer alternatives were happening but you're inadequate for wholly supporting them

The protestors are overwhelmingly young people.
Young people are idealistic.
They want to change the world for the better.
Take away their education, their training, their social lives, their jobs... they don't have a lot to do now.
Reap what was sown.

And fuck off with your trite all lives matter mantra. Black lives have never been treated like they mattered, here or in the US. That is why they have to keep reminding us BLACK LIVES MATTER.

What happened to that poor man in America is appalling and I don't blame people over there protesting it at all. However, where are the protests and the marches protesting the increasingly appalling knife crime and senseless killings in London in recent years which, frankly, a high percentage are black on black. Black lives should always matter.

Oh just this...

I'm in two minds about this. My daughter lives in London. She feels very strongly about the issue and is planning to join the protest in Parliament Square on Saturday.

Normally I'd have no issue with that but on this occasion I have tried to persuade her not to. She tells me that she and her flatmates will walk in rather than getting the tube (she lives in zone 2, so although it's quite a distance it's manageable), which is something, but social distancing will obviously be impossible once they get there.

She's in her early 20s and has no underlying health issues so she is at very low risk of dying of COVID 19 if she catches it. She will wear a face mask. She is an adult and generally sensible. She thinks it's a risk worth taking. Objectively I know I should have no worries about her personal safety (though of course I do). I worry more that the protests will cause an increase in infections and that will there will be more deaths as a result, more strain on the NHS and more delays to reopening of schools which will have a huge and lasting impact on the most disadvantaged children.

@LaurieFairyCake that's a great cartoon.

The police need to have the authority to regain the streets here. Any protesters need to abide by social distancing. Otherwise just forget the whole thing and get everyone back to work.

It is a shame, if being anti racist involves having to support the breach of public health regs during a pandemic. When safer alternatives were happening but you're inadequate for wholly supporting them

This enough said.

The initial understandably righteous anger felt by the death of the poor man in America has now turned into an excuse for younger people to relieve their boredom by engaging in continual mass gatherings, including all this weekend.

They'll completely lose any goodwill as a result. Especially when London gets a big spike in cases and the death rate goes back up.

People were mass gathering during the lockdown anyway.

When we could only exercise once a day I was out cycling through a park and plenty of people in groups bigger than 20 not social distancing at all and this is during the peak.

It's been happening before the protests so let's not pile on people gathering for protests, it's been going on for weeks.

@NewbieSM Fuck right off with your assumptions.

For your information I'm not white, my Dad is half Nigerian and my Mum is white so yes I have more white genes than black but I'm not white so again fuck off.

What happened yesterday pissed all over 10 weeks of lockdown and all the lost lives of the healthcare workers. The people in the parks and in the beaches also pissed over 10 weeks of lockdown. But it's fine because the doctors and nurses will all turn up to work when the idiots are all sick in a few weeks time, my Sister included who then has to go home to her kids.