To be utterly disgusted by the protests today.

[SoggySocksAgain]

Am I alone here?

I am utterly disgusted by what I have seen in the news.

@TabbyMumz just because he did great things doesn't mean he wasn't a racist. Why don't you do a little Google search?

Churchill was a racist.

I'm glad that nobody got hurt when the statue can down. Has it been fished out and scheduled to be melted down so that it's permanently destroyed?

Black lives do matter, which is precisely why protests that have no social distancing should NOT be taking place. It’s an oxymoron - we already know the bame community are disproportionately affected. Why would anyone think it’s a good idea to have lots of people in crowded places in the current climate?
I can’t condone any protests which use mob mentality and violence. I hate that they hurt a horse too.

If MN had been around in 1955 there would definitely be a hundred threads asking AIBU to think Rosa Parks is being a shit stirrer, that she’s just doing it for attention

LOL. So true

Also, the police have continued to keep the country safe during the pandemic so while I fully detest any form of racism I also don’t want to see the emergency services being assaulted because they don’t deserve it!

All these people suddenly worried about animal welfare are the same ones betting on the Grand National, no doubt.

I for one have never ever bet on the grand national or any form of sport that involves animals. Ever!

Breaking and burning things doesn't make people more likely to sympathise with you. It doesn't make people stop and say, "You know, maybe they have a point."

If watching a black man have the life crushed out of him by systemic racism, isn't enough for some people to sit up, take notice and say maybe they have a point then other ways will be found, like protests.

Well the protests in Edinburgh this weekend were in stark contrast to those down south. No violence, completely peaceful and social distancing respected by all. The speakers were impassioned and inspiring. How protests should be. Violence is never the answer and won't get anyone what they want.

@Khadernawazkhan

Disgusting individuals. Mindless, idiotic vandalism of the tribute to millions who gave their lives to defeat the evil of Nazism. The wives and families of those soldiers killed in WWI and WWII suffered dreadfully as well. I think of my great grandmother who was widowed for 60+ years with 6 children to raise. Their thuggery insults her memory as well.

If there's one thing in the UK that's sacred (and a few things are) its the memory and name of the soldiers that died and sacrificed their lives in awful ways for the World Wars so future generations had freedom. Whether it's poppy season or the Centoaph, or also Winston Churchill's statue.

Therefore any cause will lose public support very quickly by those kind of actions. Definition of shooting yourself in the foot.

Happy to see Churchill finally called out publicly for what he was, a massive fucking racist.

Did feel pretty sad for the injured police officers. UK police aren’t like US cops, they don’t generally walk around killing black people for kicks. Most are just normal people doing their job, they don’t deserve to be attacked.

If watching a black man have the life crushed out of him by systemic racism, isn't enough for some people to sit up, take notice

People did take notice. It was:

A) absolutely hideous and that officer should certainly be convicted of murder
B) America needs to take a hard look at itself that that can still happen there
C) People protested in the UK the previous weekend and during last week. Although it was nothing to do with the UK, it still sent a message of support at least

There was no cause to carry on protesting all weekend though. It just smacked of bored youngsters wanting a day out at best or a riot at worst (and desperately tried to goad the police into one).

YABU

C) People protested in the UK the previous weekend and during last week. Although it was nothing to do with the UK, it still sent a message of support at least

How many times does it have to be said: it has EVERYTHING to do with the UK because systemic racism is an issue here too. Ffs it's not hard for people to get your head around

@GreytExpectations

C) People protested in the UK the previous weekend and during last week. Although it was nothing to do with the UK, it still sent a message of support at least

How many times does it have to be said: it has EVERYTHING to do with the UK because systemic racism is an issue here too. Ffs it's not hard for people to get your head around

Do you think America would be rioting and having mass demonstrations if it had happened in Europe instead?

@Smilethoyourheartisbreaking

I'm not young. I protested. I will continue to do so. Why am I out there?

Where you social distancing?

@welliesandbigpuddles the OP didn't say they were disgusted at the action towards the horses, or the other violent acts (by a tiny minority). Those actions were disgusting, but actually OP said they were disgusted by the protests.

And that's the bit that is upsetting many of the rest of us. That they feel like the disgusting actions of the few allow them to dismiss a massive peaceful and incredibly important movement. Tens of thousands of people showed up to protest peacefully, many BAME, many at increased risk of covid complications and they went out anyway because this is an important opportunity to highlight how many black lives are lost, or blighted, by direct or systemic discrimination.

41 arrests were made in London, 27 officers were injured, and a horse. That is not ok, and it's understandable to be disgusted. The question is why people are then dismissing the movement, apparently not sufficiently disgusted by the reality that 50% of women who die in childbirth in the UK are BAME, vs 13% of the population; that BAME people are twice as likely to die of coronavirus; that 64% of BAME doctors have had difficulty in accessing PPE during this pandemic Vs 33% of their white colleagues. Obviously they can't be that bothered.

Those actions were disgusting, but actually OP said they were disgusted by the protests.Those actions were disgusting, but actually OP said they were disgusted by the protests.

The truth is, people who have been abiding by lockdown for 3 months and not seen their family and friends/missed funerals etc are horrified looking at the pictures of the protest.

Nobody would be disgusted if social distancing was met. It was spelled out in no uncertain terms that a protest was okay and a democratic right but people were urged to socially distance. Then people see the pictures and are horrified and, yes, angry because they're left to feel like all their sacrifices have been for nothing.

There is no sympathy here for the rioters, peaceful protest fine. There were small gatherings with social distancing in some towns, no problem

But it was going to be violent in London, the anarchists and Momentum thugs knew it would be on TV.

Many of the rioters are white, just want to cause trouble

Do you think America would be rioting and having mass demonstrations if it had happened in Europe instead?

Who gives a fuck? what a stupid juvenile point

^If they wont do it then neither will we, humph^

Momentum thugs knew it would be on TV.

Citation needed

There is no sympathy here for the rioters, peaceful protest fine. There were small gatherings with social distancing in some towns, no problem

I take my hat off to all the places who protested peacefully while abiding by the socially distancing rules which plenty did. From small towns to major cities (Edinburgh as pointed out above).

No excuse for not socially distancing with those kind of mass gatherings during a pandemic when millions have sacrificed and now are left to await the damage.

Living in London I have seen many protests.

How many actually achieve anything apart from being an annoyance to those trying to get anywhere