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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

The vigil for Sarah Everard should be allowed to go ahead, just as the BLM protests were.

256 replies

Damnrightwrong · 12/03/2021 18:10

I'm frankly appalled that the police are opposing the vigil, it wasn't so long ago that people were flocking to central London in their thousands to protest on behalf of black lives matter.

Black lives do matter, and women's lives do too.

AIBU

OP posts:
InglouriousBasterd · 12/03/2021 18:11

Completely agree

Original poster
Damnrightwrong · 12/03/2021 18:12

Those who vote YABU, please do say why?

Before covid is peddled, we were in a much worse position at the time of the BLM protests than we are now.

OP posts:
Doingitaloneandproud · 12/03/2021 18:13

Completely agree with you. I'm disappointed they haven't been allowed.

thecatfromjapan · 12/03/2021 18:15

YANBU

Clapham Common is huge - social distancing will be possible.

I'm amazed at this stance.

Original poster
Damnrightwrong · 12/03/2021 18:16

I would like to go and if it goes ahead, regardless of the ruling, I will be doing.

Shame on them.

OP posts:
Lordamighty · 12/03/2021 18:21

The Met ought to be ashamed of their stance on this. Indefensible.

AdHominemNonSequitur · 12/03/2021 18:22

I think its bonkers that the BLM protests were allowed, I don't think they could stop them though, they could hardly use force, it would have been a political disaster. That is the case now as well but two wrongs don't make a right. It was wrong then for the people to march during covid, it is wrong now to contemplate a mass gathering.

People who otherwise wouldn't die, will die. Not a great legacy for Sarah.

Covid is still a real issue. In full lock down we are just about achieving an R number of 0.7. That means for every 10 people with covid, they pass it on to 7 other people (because of vaccination and immunity yes, but also because of isolation). That will not be the case in a crowd.

AIMD · 12/03/2021 18:22

I was a little on the fence initially but on the whole I do think it should be allowed to go ahead.

I do see why there might be some worry about groups due to covid because I guess it would mean people using public transport etc and I can imagine there might be a LOT lot of people. Overall though this feels important enough.

BoJoHoNo · 12/03/2021 18:24

YANBU I hope it still goes ahead. I can't see any 'Covid' fines for people attending being upheld in court.

Original poster
Damnrightwrong · 12/03/2021 18:24

I'm pleased to see the majority agree so far.

You would think the MET would want to do all they can to improve community relations given the state things are in now. They are irreparably damaging our trust.

OP posts:
PicsInRed · 12/03/2021 18:26

I honestly don't think a single thing is going to change for women until we revert to the more "active" tactics of the suffragettes.

They are never going to give us safety unless we first take it by force.

Twistered · 12/03/2021 18:28

PicsinRed ... How?

PurpleDaisies · 12/03/2021 18:29

There were no covid outbreaks linked to the BLM protests as far as I’ve seen.

The courts probably think women will be more likely to be good little girls and listen to the judgement.

ChonkyChook · 12/03/2021 18:31

Police - institutionally racist.
Police - killing women. Both literally and through inaction.

BLM had male protesters as well as women.
They're not worried about women protesting when told not too.

Black Lives Matter.
Women's Lives Matter.

InglouriousBasterd · 12/03/2021 18:32

The appeal has been lost Angry I hope it goes ahead anyway tbh.

Londonmummy66 · 12/03/2021 18:33

I have every intention of going - if it is cancelled I'm still going to walk down to Clapham Common and walk around it as part of my permitted daily exercise.

OverTheRainbow88 · 12/03/2021 18:34

It should go ahead but YABVU comparing it to BLM

babbaloushka · 12/03/2021 18:34

I'm going to our local one regardless, I've had my first jab and it's a risk I'm willing to take, just as my DDs were for BLM. Atrocious behaviour given the key suspect was a serving police officer...

megletsecond · 12/03/2021 18:35

Yanbu.
IIRC almost all the BLM protestors wore masks as I'm sure the reclaim the streets one will. Outdoors in masks isn't that risky.
Although I appreciate the police are over stretched and probably don't want to commit to keep an eye on it.

110APiccadilly · 12/03/2021 18:35

YANBU, however the law has changed since then to make protests illegal. I was very concerned by this at the time, but there were plenty of people who weren't. And of course lots who weren't aware. If you were aware at the time, and were not concerned, you can't now complain that the law is being applied.

TempsPerdu · 12/03/2021 18:38

The Met will be massively shooting themselves in the foot if they prevent this vigil from going ahead. Community relations are hanging on by a thread as it is; with a Met officer implicated in this case it really is a terrible look, which smacks of arrogance and paternalism. They have overstepped the mark on many occasions during the pandemic as it is.

Agree with the pp who says more active tactics may be needed if we are to advance (or indeed even to preserve) women’s rights, which are being threatened on many fronts at the moment.

Personally I think it is at this point that I part company with the covid guidelines. And don’t even get me started on the legislation (policing bill) due in parliament next week to further restrict our right to peaceful protest... Angry

Samcro · 12/03/2021 18:39

@AdHominemNonSequitur

I think its bonkers that the BLM protests were allowed, I don't think they could stop them though, they could hardly use force, it would have been a political disaster. That is the case now as well but two wrongs don't make a right. It was wrong then for the people to march during covid, it is wrong now to contemplate a mass gathering.

People who otherwise wouldn't die, will die. Not a great legacy for Sarah.

Covid is still a real issue. In full lock down we are just about achieving an R number of 0.7. That means for every 10 people with covid, they pass it on to 7 other people (because of vaccination and immunity yes, but also because of isolation). That will not be the case in a crowd.

this
TheVelvetiser · 12/03/2021 18:40

I thought it had proven that the risk of outdoor transmission is minimal? In that case it should absolutely go ahead.

PicsInRed · 12/03/2021 18:42

Judge has just ruled. He said no.