Is it just white people who object to the protests?

[malificent7]

I am white...i support the protests...several of my white friends are horrified by them. Are any non whites against them and if so why?
Aibu to feel that the incensed are scared of loosing their white priveledge or feelings of supremacy?

I support the protests. I'm black and I don't think enough notice would have been taken without the protests.

I wish it wasn't in the midst of a global pandemic, however I also think it being at this time has increased the support.

Peaceful protests would not have worked in America though. I can understand why the younger generation feel the fight for equality is more important.

When the virus is over, racism will still be here, so while the spotlight is on it...and people are listening...this is the time to make their point.

There has been objection to the statue in Bristol for years...they would never have taken it down...in spite of thousands signing a petition...... so I really don't care about criminal damage in regards to this.

If there were no protests....no other statues in the UK or the rest of the world would have been removed without.

It's a matter of striking while the iron is hot.

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"A person who attended Saturday's Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne on Saturday, which thousands of others attended, has contracted COVID-19."

Interesting choice of photo to accompany the story.

It's a matter of striking while the iron is hot

It probably is but I feel that US police violence is a trigger. But it is the wider more subtle racism that is the main problem with black people having fulfilled lives. There is too much going into the pot imv right now. And the US is a very different country.
I think pushing for greater numbers of black people in businesses, the arts, media so that they represent nearer the correct proportion. You need black people making the rules. So in the judicial system etc. Instead marches seem to be taking on the US police Dept and to a lesser extent our police. So are striking the wrong iron.

I'm white. I agree that everyone should have a voice and be entitled to protest peacefully.
But mindless vandalism, looting., throwing stuff at horses and defacing monuments is not the way to go about it..

I'm white. I agree that everyone should have a voice and be entitled to protest peacefully.
But mindless vandalism, looting., throwing stuff at horses and defacing monuments is not the way to go about it..

Then what is the way to go about it? After decades of 'affirmative action' and, peaceful protest, and sitting on committees and writing petitions and being all Liberal and optimistic and supportive and all that other stuff... we still have a situation where in this country we elect a blatantly racist Prime Minister who thinks using language like "picaninnies with watermelon smiles" is ok and that in American policemen can murder people ON CAMERA and have people defend them.

Read some history. It's full of moments where the people said 'fuck this for a game of soldiers' and smashed stuff up. Defacing monument has been going on since prehistory. The ancient Egyptians did a great line in effacing previous regimes by obliterating names and tearing down statues. Christian armies of various factions had great fun looting and destroying each other's iconography - and those of other religions. The first thing the democracy movements in Eastern Europe was gleefully tear down statues to Lenin et al. Think those statues of Kim Jong-un are going to be there in 100 years time?

Interesting times.

I have absolutely no problem with protests, and pulling down statues of slave traders is something I'm all in favour of, I enjoyed seeing the Bristol statue being rolled into the Avon, seeing as there had been numerous attempts to have it taken down legally.

Throwing bicycles at police officers or horses isn't right, however you look at it.

My only real concern, though, is the timing of these protests and the risk to public health. Although it will sound insulting to black people to hear that from white people seeing as they're the ones who are at more risk of dying from COVID-19 than white people.

I don't think we should pick and choose which laws we break. I appreciate the suffragettes in effect were terrorists of their day but in fact the changes came about through backroom discussions not the law breaking in my view and by the economic need for women in the work place - money is often the main reason for many changes.

I hope we can somehow make sure the bill for extra public health risks caused by everyone who has not followed the law and I include in that people packing into private parties in homes as much as people no marches who did not keep distances is put on those people not on those of us who have had no state help in the pandemic and have followed the rules to the letter. (I have only had 2 walks even in 11 weeks and have not seen my grandchildren for 6 months).

I'm scared about Saturday I really don't want anyone to get hurt or there to be a riot.

I don't think we should pick and choose which laws we break.

I do. For one thing, as a debating point, it would be impossible not to. Ignorance (of the law) is no defence. So unless you KNEW the entire statute book off by heart and religiously obeyed every single word of it you are in effect picking and choosing which laws you obey.

I chose to break the laws on copyright every day. Every time you cut and paste some image from the web you are probably breaking the law. I know the consequences and judge the relative risks (of getting caught) involved. We all do. Everyone picks and chooses which laws they break.

Mixed here

I support protests, but the aggression of some people is just harming the cause. Throwing objects at police and horses just antagonises BLM and provides ammunition for people to use.

Now people are going to say "see? This is why black peoples get killed. Because they behave this way, they deserve it."

In not talking about the statues here (I agree with them being removed). I'm talking specifically about violence etc

the first thing the democracy movements in Eastern Europe was gleefully tear down statues to Lenin

Sandman

Are you seriously comparing living in 21st century Britain with living in 1950s Gdansk? Or East Berlin? You think life in the UK is comparable to life in North Korea? Do you have any idea how bankrupt your comparisons are? Eastern Europe had democracy movements because they were forced to live in a totalitarian state, with a Stasi and a wall built to keep its citizens from fleeing. Your false equivalence is laughable.

Who attacked a horse? The horse ran into a traffic light because it was raining. The media are clever at showing what they want people to perceive.

Fuck the statue it shouldn't have been standing to begin with.

I'm white and support the protests. If I was younger and going out, I would have joined them.

And now we have Tommy Robinson trying to cause a race war. More than likely the government put him up to it and I prey to god no one shows up because people will get seriously hurt , riots will start and that's what they want. To fucking divide us all further.

@Sweetlikecoca

“The social distancing and lock down is an absolute disgrace.
Shops are opening, children are not back in school and there’s no plan. Please just don’t tell me about rules when Borris and Dominic don’t follow themselves. confused

I suspect they will be a lot of people out of a job.. you sound like Borris yourself wink“

That makes even less sense than your last post, “love”. Try to keep off the glue..

Who attacked a horse? The horse ran into a traffic light because it was raining. The media are clever at showing what they want people to perceive.

The horse bolted because someone through a bike at it. Theres photos and videos that back that up.

*threw

I don't support the protests for a number of reasons. Firstly, we are in the midst of a COVID pandemic, where large gatherings are forbidden. They are risking their own lives (their choice), but also many vulnerable people they may come into contact with. Secondly, the protests in the UK about a man being killed in the US are pointless and narcissistic. Thirdly, they are being hijacked by a number of other groups to sow civil tensions, to riot, loot and to attack the police. Sooner or later this will get a response from the powers that be, which may further infringe upon all of our civil liberties (think curfews, legislation to require all people to carry ID etc).

@Tianalia I see we were talking about two separate incidents, the one I saw, the police officer is now in hospital.

Sandman

Are you seriously comparing living in 21st century Britain with living in 1950s Gdansk? Or East Berlin? You think life in the UK is comparable to life in North Korea? Do you have any idea how bankrupt your comparisons are? Eastern Europe had democracy movements because they were forced to live in a totalitarian state, with a Stasi and a wall built to keep its citizens from fleeing. Your false equivalence is laughable.

I was just pointing out that history does have a habit of repeating itself and pulling down 'fuck you, you plebs' statues of authoritarian figures is not unprecedented. Having public monuments to people who gained their privilege and power by selling people into slavery is not acceptable any more.

No, life here in 21st Century Britain is not comparable with life in late 20thC Eastern Europe and it's not BECAUSE we pull down statues and take to the streets when we're pissed off. If we didn't we would still be living in a totalitarian feudal monarchy. No one who genuinely hold power gives it up out of any kind of spontaneous altruistic generosity. British democracy is built on riot and defiance. Those that consider themselves the natural ruling class would dump it in a second if they thought they could get away with it.

@TheSandman

I agree with you. If no one protested ever, the English Civil War would never have happened and we would still be living under an absolute Monarch. We've had to campaign for every change that's ever happened.

I would be all for these protests if it weren't for the pandemic and concerns about a second wave. But then the anger right now has been fuelled by the pandemic and the fact that black people have been disproportionately impacted in this country and the US.

Maybe if some people look at why laws are being broken instead of focusing on that people are breaking the law we wouldn’t have this problem in the first place.

It seems that just because BLM doesn’t affect you personally or your child, brother or who ever else your all too happy to sit and talk about the surface. Let’s talk about the real issue here!!

Why are people going to such lengths?? Unless your crazy I don’t think people are vandalising for no reason.

is not acceptable any more

Who decides which statues are not acceptable anymore? When was that dictate issued? No historical figures will pass the judgement of the 21st century. Who decides?

No one who genuinely hold power gives it up out of any kind of spontaneous altruistic generosity

It's good that you're making explicit that you seem to have in mind some kind of redistributive revolution. Are you planning to bring down capitalism? Along with Nelson?

who decides which statues are not acceptable anymore?

Who decided that women were entitled to vote? Who decided that the Age of Empire was over? Who decides anything? The populace. History. Destiny. The time was right. The 'tide in the affairs of men'.
There is an argument that it is totally unimportant who actually invented the steam engine it was just 'Steam Engine Time'. All the ingredients were there. All the knowledge. Someone was bound to invent the thing. Same with the Aeroplane, television, the computer etc. This is just the next in a long line of moments where something came to an end - or something started. I don't know which. Come back and ask me in 50 years time. Chairman Mao was once asked (this is probably totally apocryphal) what he thought the effects of the French Revolution had been and he replied - "It's too early to tell yet".

And who said anything about wanting a redistributive revolution? (Though all revolutions are, by their nature, redistributive. Well, the successful ones are.)

@Mittens030869 - you're right. This wouldn't have happened without all the pent up frustrations that the lockdown has bought.

@BovaryX

the first thing the democracy movements in Eastern Europe was gleefully tear down statues to Lenin

Sandman

Are you seriously comparing living in 21st century Britain with living in 1950s Gdansk? Or East Berlin? You think life in the UK is comparable to life in North Korea? Do you have any idea how bankrupt your comparisons are? Eastern Europe had democracy movements because they were forced to live in a totalitarian state, with a Stasi and a wall built to keep its citizens from fleeing. Your false equivalence is laughable.

Almost as laughable as your arrogant false-intellectual right wing fuckery. Have fun waving your white pride flag.