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?

Were you not able to think of the good points yourself?

Of course there will be black people who don’t agree with protesting during a pandemic that they’re more at risk of dying from than white people. They won’t like hearing judgemental comments about it from white people, though, as there really hasn’t been any genuine concern for black people before this, most of whom have had to work in unsafe conditions during the lockdown.

It’s difficult to filter out those who are genuinely concerned about the risks of mass gatherings because of Covid-19.

It is telling that many of the same people who claim that the police shouldn’t be judged as a whole for the actions of a few individual officers are quick to label protesters as a group as thugs for the actions of a few individuals.

I'm black and a health care professional working and living in London. I don't support the protests now because of CV-19. But I also feel things have gained momentum because of CV-19 and more people being at home working. The virus has devastated black and ethnic minority groups and most of the clinicians that have died are from this group. Any such gatherings increase the risk of infection spreading. I dread to think what the numbers will be in a couple of weeks. We barely made it through the first wave and u have seen first hand the hold up in care of those who don't have CV-19 but need to see a doctor (cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, chest disease etc etc)

I agree with the protests but not the violence and destruction.
Sadly this whole debacle has given DM and her cronies another reason for their racist views and it would seem that black people have been further disadvantaged and made to appear as violent thugs by those wrecking these protests which is clearly unfair.
The removal of 'the black's head' in our neighbouring town has brought out all the roaring rednecks and I'd not feel at all welcome as a person of colour in this neck of the woods anytime soon. It seems to have widened the gap here and the list of George Floyd's previous crimes has become a focal point, more so than his death.

I'm white so not sure my opinion counts but...

I'm against the protests, although support the cause. This is solely because of covid. I wish people would spread out, not touch each other wear masks etc. Given the numbers it seems very likely some people would have it, given the close contact it also seems likely it would be spread. Also, if we do have a second peak I know BLM protesters will be blamed. The Tory press will be all over them. They'll ignore the loosening of lockdown and also the damage Dominic Cummings has done. I bet after DC more individuals thought 'fuck it' and went to see friends/family members in close quarters were the virus is more likely to be spread than outside. BLM will be a very convenient scapegoat though.

Overall, I do support the protest but not the way they protested, people should have been very, very careful re covid. This didn't happen.

I am against the protests due to Covid. As we still all stand patiently 2m apart to enter a supermarket, it is absolutely ludicrous to participate in mass gatherings.

Peaceful protests are great. BLM is very important.

However, the mass protests which descended into violence, 27 police officers injured, one seriously, destruction of war memorial and a young person attempting to burn a flag on the cenotaph don't help any cause whatever it is because what happens then is people talk about the destruction and violence rather than the cause. It's a shame London wasn't peaceful as well. Anyone who thinks it is ok to be violent has lost the moral highground.

I think your statement is a bit racist op. All white people dont think the same as all black people dont. A lot of black people are very vocal and critical of the burning, looting and stealing from black communities as well as white owned in the us and the uk but their voices are non platformed as it doesn’t fit the narrative. I have not seen any criticism of peaceful protest form any one aside from the risk posed by Covid. I think you are being deliberately divisive op.

I agree with you Ireolu and since BAME are most at risk of covid-19 then to congregate so closely for so long seems really stupid. There is bound to be one person in the protests that has the virus and will spread it. I hope you aren't too busy in a couple of weeks time since unfair to put you at extra risk.

What’s funny (not as in funny, funny) but I saw 6 men rolling the statue to the water to throw it in, 5 was not black, 1 was.

If I was black, I’d be a bit pissed off, if any black people started violence or vandalism during a black protest, I’d be super pissed off if white People we’re doing it, whilst trying to cry for black rights

I understand the white people joining the protest, to show we’re not all racist idiots, but if your then going to be counterproductive to the main goal, your not doing much good are you?

Black people are definitely in a tight spot, but then no good change was ever easy I imagine?

I'm white. I support the protests.

My neighbour is black and a nurse. She's horrified by the protests because she's just spent weeks nursing COVID patients. She doesnt object to protesting per sec and in other circumstances would be right out there joining in and so would I.

I dont know anyone in rl, black or white, that gives a shit about that bloody statue though

About the statue being toppled and chucked in the harbour, in case that wasnt clear.

I’m white, and I fully support peaceful, lawful, socially distanced BLM protests.

What I do not support is violence, vandalism, criminal damage, animal abuse eg throwing bikes & flares at police horses and lack of social distancing.

I'm not white and don't agree with the protests. While I think people should be free to protest, they are not effective in achieving desired outcomes (see Iraq war protest).

It's a bit old but this is good piece on why it's possible to support the BLM cause but not it's approach: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/08/24/i-was-a-civil-rights-activist-in-the-1960s-but-its-hard-for-me-to-get-behind-black-lives-matter/%3foutputType=amp

Black lives matter, of course they do. The lives of these people matter too.

I have a teenage family member who is mixed race. He has not encountered racism in his 19 years. Guess who is now being blamed, by his “friends”, for the brutality this protest has delivered.

This protest has done nothing to bridge the gap. In fact it has only served to further alienate black people.

I support the protests and hoping that real change will be implemented. However with all protests out come rent a mob (who have nothing to do with the protest) who take over and use it as an excuse for violence and ruin what should be a peaceful protest. It's annoying because the white, right wing media will only show these pictures and not the peaceful protests

I'm white, my best friend is a black police officer and her whole family are petrified when she goes out to work at the moment - because of the protest violence mainly, however they are awaiting the EDL type backlash that will also be aimed at her.

She herself hates it all and will be happy when the protests stop. I quickly learnt this after saying I supported them, she asked me not to do so on her behalf.

Family member did not attend any protest BTW out of respect for a person on the shielded list that he lives with.

Like most other PP have said.

I support protests. I support this particular protest.

I don’t support thuggery, no matter what the cause.

Chucking a bike at a police horse is hardly a protest.

I’m Asian and in favour of peaceful protests under normal circumstances.

But against them now due to the pandemic especially because BAME people are at higher risk of dying from it.

It is because black lives matter to me, that I am against the protests at this time. It doesn’t matter that some protesters can stay at the fringes and keep social distancing, all the large protests video and photo coverage shows thousands not social distancing.

I said this repeatedly on the thread about “being emotional about the slave trader statue” and was told to “stop fucking defending him” (the slave trader dead 300yrs now) and called a racist and a Karen and all kinds of things for pointing out that the Bristol protest was more about assuaging white guilt than black lives mattering because everyone there was gambling with black lives and tearing down a statue does nothing to help black lives or fight against systemic racism.

How do you know your relative has never experienced racism @PennyInMyPocket? His "friends" are clearly racist if they are blaming him for any violence associated with the riots, so does it really seem credible to you that none of their racism has ever crept out before?

I am wary of any kinds of protests but probably not for the reason many people oppose protests. I think most "marches against" are a form of reaction formation - but the concept is unpalatable to digest and so mostly goes unquestioned.