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?

But fucking hell coronavirus hasn’t gone to make room for protests!!

It hadn't room for Dominic Cummings to high tail it around the country either, but that didn't stop him did it? Were there any repercussions for him personally? Hell no. He's white. In power. Above the laws for the mere minions. Don't think that this isn't a protest at the government in place currently too.

I attended Parliament Square’s protest today. I weighed up my options, the risk to myself and those around me (who were all aware and supportive of my attendance) and my feelings around BLM. I suspect everyone there knew the risks and had decided that this issue is important enough to protest over in any case.

For me, the risk was worth it. It was a good experience - not quite socially distanced in terms of 2 metres but more so than other protests I’ve been to. 99% of people there wore masks and those that didn’t were offered masks by other protestors.

It was very powerful. I’m glad I went. Even in lockdown. Frankly, I’ve had people closer to me in M&S.

It hadn't room for Dominic Cummings to high tail it around the country either, but that didn't stop him did it?

Dominic Cummings didn't put people at risk in the way that the protests will.

*I have no interest in attending any kind of protest.
*
That's fine. Not everyone's comfortable with attending protests. But eager to hear from everyone what other forms of activism you're taking.

Aw, poor Dominic. He only subjected a few people to his virus.

People don't care about fucking COVID anymore. Do you not get that there are some things more important than fear of death?

@gimmeay - great deflection. But regardless you've made a claim that I am genuinely interested to see the back up for - not to be awkward but to understand. So?

People don't care about fucking COVID anymore. Do you not get that there are some things more important than fear of death?

Seriously? That has got to be up there with one of the most stupid comments I've seen on here. Well done you.

I am from the BAME community, Floyd’s death is a crime and a tragedy, Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter - therefore stay at home - it is not an essential journey. Can’t help thinking lockdown fatigue and the excuse to break it whilst feeling virtuous is a factor, for some.

But regardless you've made a claim that I am genuinely interested to see the back up for - not to be awkward but to understand. So?

What 'claim' are you referring to?

@GimmeAy

Aw, poor Dominic. He only subjected a few people to his virus.

People don't care about fucking COVID anymore. Do you not get that there are some things more important than fear of death?

That's fine if you're only talking about your own death. But it's not is it. It's risking more and more people dying from this virus, not just protesters. Does that not matter?

Can’t help thinking lockdown fatigue and the excuse to break it whilst feeling virtuous is a factor, for some.

It's certainly part of it.

@MexicanStyle it won’t end with everyone getting together in their thousands will it?!
Hundreds if not thousands if not 10s of thousands of people will become ill and die because of this.

No, Covid hasn’t gone away and I didn’t stay at home for 10 weeks to suddenly take the kids to a massive rally. I really wish we could go but can’t risk it.

Foolish and after just watching the video of the mob attacking the mounted police I'm absolutely disgusted. Before anyone says anything my husband is black and my kids are mixed race- but this is NOT the answer

Just watching the scenes on the news. Disgusting.

Seriously? That has got to be up there with one of the most stupid comments I've seen on here. Well done you.

Being Irish, I can think of tens of Irish people who gave their lives willingly for the sake of freedom from British rule. I'll list them if you want. They gave their LIVES for the cause of freedom - walking into certain death by declaring themselves a Republic. We're not alone in that sort of action either. A sinister faceless virus is nothing compared to the anger that black people feel watching one of their own being murdered gleefully by a white police officer. It is the worst example of what they have been subjected to on a lesser scale all their lives. If you can't understand that, then it ain't I who is stupid.

I’m not worried about myself getting ill. I have friends at the protests who live alone or with a partner who is also attending, don’t work out of the home and have very little risk passing it on so they’ve measured their risk and it’s fine to them. However if you have someone in your household who’s high risk, it’s just not fair to Expect them to become ill and suffer and possibly die because you want to attend something.

The scenes on the news are a very small minority. Every single person I saw was acting peacefully and respectfully.

Can’t help thinking lockdown fatigue and the excuse to break it whilst feeling virtuous is a factor, for some.

How fucking patronising. Jesus Christ.

@gimmeay this is very hard work could you answer the question?

Lives in Britain are not more at risk from racism than covid. In fact black lives are more at risk from Covid.

Depends on what segment of BAME society you look at.

So it's not about a black man's murder and systemic racism for 4 centuries? It's because people are bored and have nothing better to do? Could you BE any more insulting?

Feel very sorry for BLM organisers that the protest has been hijacked by a small number of idiots.

100% going tomorrow - More black people have been killed as a result of racism than we could ever imagine covid would...

Can’t help thinking lockdown fatigue and the excuse to break it whilst feeling virtuous is a factor, for some
Sadly I think you are very right and this has put me off the whole thing as a result.

All those people going on about it, how much did they care a week ago, 1 year ago, 10 years ago when the same was happening but it wasn't all over the media.

If you can't understand that, then it ain't I who is stupid

Your white virtue signalling is revolting.