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.

Mawkish, uncomfortable? We're getting somewhere. Again, why are so many people around the world protesting against racism in 2020?

Sandy it is racism. Calling it that is only an issue for those who are not prepared to accept that racism exists or those who are overtly complicit in retaining it

I know it is, and erm yeah that's the whole point! A lot of people don't engage at all, some because they are arseholes who will never change their views, unfortunately for society we are burdened with them; but for some it's ignorance and anything to engage those would be positive.

I'm going to add my last two cents on this. My concern is that because racism is systematic and because it is often subtle, it means that it is a complex issue. I would say that if the reality is that if you live in this country, and you're white (generalizing and excluding travellers, jewish people), you've benefited from white privilege, you've benefited from the slave trade and colonialism (however indirectly), and hand-on-heart (including myself), you will have at some point been racially prejudiced.

I can remember doing knocking on doors as a Labour Party activist in Bristol in St Pauls as a white 19 year old, and feeling some anxiety about being in a majority afro-carribean area.

The reality for most people is that race and racism is complex, and therefore I find it problematic to be shouting people down with insults if they don't agree. If we are to root out racism in the UK, it will need open and honest conversations that don't leave either side feeling attacked or put down by the other.

No, although I find the gesture of "taking the knee" a bit mawkish for want of a better word.

Right, people against kneeling- was it 'mawkish' when MLK did it? I think people don't understand that is to pay respect, it is NOT white people apologising. Black people kneel, anybody can kneel.

Mawkish, uncomfortable? We're getting somewhere

Only the 'knee' gesture itself - not my sort of thing.

Again, why are so many people around the world protesting against racism in 2020?

To be fair - I have only seen news coverage in the UK, the States and Italy. Not to diminish BLM, but we are in a new era of protest as the Extinction Rebellion protests demonstrated as well.

A virtual protest to took place on Sunday evening as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, on the fifth anniversary of the burial of Sheku Bayoh.
The move came after Mr Bayoh’s sister, Kadi Johnston, who is a staff nurse, urged people to protest digitally due to the pandemic.

However getting the news of this virtual protest out there was difficult because instead everyone would rather argue about what went wrong at the protests in public that did take place.

How many of you on this thread knew about this movement on Sunday evening? I keep reading you support the cause and peaceful protests but what are you actually doing to support the cause and peaceful protest?

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sister-death-custody-victim-sheku-22139467

The only remedy to hate is love. The only remedy to ignorance is education. The privileged know not what they have. Cowardice does not yet know courage. I like to hope that people engaging on these threads are on some level attempting to challenge their ignorance. I want to embrace that and educate. I will do it for all those too weary from their relentless struggle for equality. Rest, for our journey is just beginning.

Clavinova,

Taking the knee may upset your sensibilities, but this gesture does not require your approval.

Ask yourself why it is not your thing? What about it makes you feel uncomfortable? What comes to mind when you question your response to this gesture? Is it fear?

And Clavinova, yes, it does deeply diminish the protest against racism if you perceive it as a trend in a new era of protest. Sadly, there is nothing new about the protest against racism.

If you can accept that historical fact, I ask you again, why are so many people around the world protesting against racism in 2020?

So as to clarify. Estimates are 137,500 people in the UK took part in protests over the weekend. 135 were arrested, so perhaps celebrate headlines like "99% of protesters were peaceful" & save your disgust for systemic racism ( stat #s are from Priti Patel, a known "lefty" agitator of course).

99% . That is a powerful proportion of brave people. I am so proud of the restraint and commitment to peace in the face of such antagonism. It is time to change the debate.

Why are so many people peacefully protesting against racism in 2020? This should be the question we are asking ourselves.

Well you can eadily boycott above authors. Not so easy to ignore a slaver staring down whilst on an exhalted plinth. It was an insult.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus

Other notable racists that we might want to “revisionist” out of history:

Roald Dahl (anti-Semite)
Dickens (ditto)
Marie Stopes (eugenicist)
Enid Blyton (racist homophobe)
CS Lewis (as above)

If we are correcting historical sins by mob rule then the mob is going to have its work cut out. Many philanthropists have a “dark” side, but they have also contributed to the society we now enjoy.

I am much more concerned about the slavery that happens today (in the Middle East, for example, or child Labour in the textiles industry) than getting aerated over monuments to people who died before I was born. I suspect those embroiled in the slave trade in 2020 feel the same - do their lives matter?

Agree to an extent - the same with music where some great music has been written/performed by some truly awful people.

Absolutely agree with your point about modern slavery - look at the work being done in Qatar for the World Cup. Shocking conditions.

BristolProud
"Taking the knee may upset your sensibilities, but this gesture does not require your approval."

You asked me;
^"What is in your heart?" and do you find the protests "uncomfortable"?

And then you disapprove of my answer - I said I found "taking the knee" a bit mawkish - I don't like "Auld Lang Syne" either but that's just me - you don't need my approval.

"And Clavinova, yes, it does deeply diminish the protest against racism if you perceive it as a trend in a new era of protest. Sadly, there is nothing new about the protest against racism."

But that doesn't explain the global protest now - why not last year or five years ago?

Clavinova, I really do not understand your question here 'But that doesn't explain the global protest now - why not last year or five years ago?'. You'll have to explain that one.

It is a reaction to the murder of a black man the other day surely?

"bushhbb

No, although I find the gesture of "taking the knee" a bit mawkish for want of a better word."

"Right, people against kneeling- was it 'mawkish' when MLK did it? I think people don't understand that is to pay respect, it is NOT white people apologising. Black people kneel, anybody can kneel."

Old people cant kneel. Saw a group trying to do it in a court, old folk struggle to get down and kneel, and a lot cant balance. They could have thought of a better symbol.

It is a reaction to the murder of a black man the other day surely?

Yes, but the protests are about much more than one individual - individuals were murdered/unlawfully killed last year and five years ago...

I've really had my eyes opened the last few days about what a racist place MN is. Or maybe MN is just reflecting many white people's attitudes?

I attended a protest yesterday because I'm disgusted at the chain of events that have brought this to a head, disgusted by Trumps comments, which he's surely making to inflame the black community further.

OP, there are many things to be discusted by at the moment, protesting isn't one of them.

@Clavinova...tipping point maybe....like Rodney King only that was 30 years ago and didn't go international in the same way.

@TabbyMumz

"bushhbb

No, although I find the gesture of "taking the knee" a bit mawkish for want of a better word."

"Right, people against kneeling- was it 'mawkish' when MLK did it? I think people don't understand that is to pay respect, it is NOT white people apologising. Black people kneel, anybody can kneel."

Old people cant kneel. Saw a group trying to do it in a court, old folk struggle to get down and kneel, and a lot cant balance. They could have thought of a better symbol.

The kneeling was in response to the police violence in the USA where NFL player, Colin Kaepernick who didn't feel able to stand and pledge allegiance to the US as the national anthem is performed at every sporting event.

This past week, the NFL has admitted they were wrong. It's a start.