Attending BLM protests?

[ALifeDesign]

I am wondering if anyone has attended today or planning to go to any of the protests being organised around the country this weekend.

I am debating going tomorrow. I would maintain social distancing and wear a mask. In ordinary times I would be there without a second's thought but these aren't ordinary times.

Some photos from today on Twitter look well organised, distanced etc.

I wfh and live with one other person - currently furloughed - who would also be at the protest, so I feel we are low risk of spreading.

I'm still a bit torn. So I suppose AIBU to attend?

[Crunchymum]

@MsAwesomeDragon

Aye, so there isn't one local enough for you. Why don't you organise or at least garner opinion about starting a local one?

[Smileyaxolotl1]

nixen totally agree.
People who take children must be brain dead.
Even if the intention is to to be peaceful they are often hijacked by violent people.

[Wewearpinkonwednesdays]

It will be interesting to read everyone's excuse for not going.

Well I think being in the middle of a pandemic is a pretty good excuse for skipping any protest or mass gathering. What a ridiculous thing to say.

[Mintychoc1]

crunchymum have you heard about COVID and the social distancing rules regarding large groups?

[1forAll74]

NO, I would not go anywhere near crowded places.Although some people will try and social distance,others will inevitably group up together and talk about the BLM protest.

[Mintychoc1]

I feel sorry for the police (many of whom will be BAME) who will have to attend these large gatherings, thereby exposing themselves to additional risk.

[MadameMarie]

You should not be in any large gathering during a pandemic. That poster asking for an excuse not to go can't be serious.

I'm sat in agony with toothache and can't even get to a fucking dentist but these bored youth can swarm around in their thousands for a day out.

[Smileyaxolotl1]

mintychoc yep- apparently some black lives matter more than others....

[RudeAF]

Which one are you going to crunchymum?

[janeskettle]

I feel sorry for the police (many of whom will be BAME)

Ditto the nurses.

[WhentheRabbitsWentWild]

@Crunchymum (what a strange name, makes me think of new age travellers but hey ho)

What do you mean you want to know the reasons people won't go ?
YOU going ??
Case you hadn't noticed there is a pandemic on and some of us have, well, our own LIVES to care of
Damn cheek of You.

[MsAwesomeDragon]

@Crunchymum because when I've asked people about it, some have been willing to travel to one, and most other acquaintances are too worried about covid to go. I also wouldn't have the first clue how to go about organising a protest, I don't have many sm contacts, so it would end up being me and 3 mates, which isn't a great protest.

[Wewearpinkonwednesdays]

I know we are in the middle of a pandemic, which is why posting and saying this is the reason you aren't going, is making an excuse

So is that not a good enough excuse for you?

[BakedCam]

Why don't you just go, OP? If an important cause, go along. I'm not sure what your dilemma is?

[Fink]

I would love to go, but I accidentally ran into one in central London last week (hadn't realised it was happening as had no internet at the time so hadn't seen the local news) and was shocked at the lack of social distancing. Not only were people not 2 metres apart, but they were literally pressing against one another, there was no space at all between bodies. Few were wearing masks.

I mean, there are other difficulties, like I'd have to find childcare and cycle a 25 miles round trip to get there. But the main issue, as someone living with someone who has to shield, is the astonishing lack of social distancing. I really support the cause and would love to go, but I can't put my parents at risk like that.

[Crunchymum]

@RudeAF
Since you ask - none.

But I haven't posted to tell people all the reasons I would go if I could (which is what stood out to me!! We all know Covid wise it is a not a good idea for mass gatherings?)

People don't need to keep citing this as their reason for staying home?

[AintNoMaryPoppins]

@Crunchymum

It will be interesting to read everyone's excuse for not going.

I think the fact we're in the middle of a global pandemic and over 40,000 people in the UK alone have already died is a pretty good one don't you? I certainly won't be guilting anyone for not wanting to attend mass gatherings right now.

[Harpingon]

No social distancing at the London protest, lots without masks. Also looks like it might kick off as they are moving towards the USA embassy where police will try to keep them back. Not a good place for small children.

[Fink]

Don’t quite get what the protests are for given that NOBODY thinks that what happened to George Floyd was ok no matter how unsavoury an individual he was.

Well, some people do think it was ok, but they're a small minority. A much larger group of people think that what happened to him was a tragic individual case which is 'unfortunate' but not symptomatic of systematic, instituionalised racism deeply embedded in society. This, in brief, is what the protests are about.

[RudeAF]

I’m not sure your posts are making the quite the point you think they are making. Obviously not everyone thinks the pandemic is a reason not to attend a protest or we wouldn’t even be having this discussion would we.

[janeskettle]

penguins

My son of colour stayed home, because he was worried about things kicking off. His rich white friends, however, had a lovely day out. Unmasked.

[MadameMarie]

@penguinsbegin

How many black youth are being slain on the streets of London every year through knife crime?

How about protesting that in normal times, rather than the actions of a bad cap thousands of miles away during a pandemic; while in doing so helping spread the disease by ignoring social distancing.