To be angry at the frenzy caused by others last night

[BarometerTV]

I think it was utterly disrespectful. We are in lockdown and it was not the right time for a protest. I agree with a quiet, respectful, socially distanced space to grieve - which is what appeared to happen during the day.

@BarometerTV

And a don’t think turning into a country that hates our police is going to help anyone.

That's up to the police and how they choose to behave.

Hi folks

Can we be aware that whilst someone has been charged, there hasn't been a trial yet. It's fine to refer to the 'charged' person, but posts that speculate outright before the trial has taken place will be removed as this could be in contempt of court. If these posts continue, we may have to remove the thread.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

It's a very muddled picture at present. There are indications some very aggressively anti-police activists were there and treating the gathering more as a protest than a vigil. I saw one picture of a protestor holding a placard saying ACAB, right next to the police cordon. That's taken from the BLM protests, if I understand correctly, and stands for All Cops Are Bastards. Now, given what's happened in the last week, that's hardly surprising and the police should be well enough trained to ignore provocation and concentrate on maintaining public order and preventing/dealing with lawbreaking.

God knows what the poor woman's family and friends are making of all this. It has very little to do with her now. The people who attempted organise the vigils at first have set off a fundraising venture even though they are not a registered charity and haven't actually decided yet where the money will go. There again, nothing to do with Sarah Everard and her family.

ACAB isn't a BLM thing, I have no idea where you got that idea. It's a phrase commonly associated with the protest scene for decades.

And we can see why after last night can't we?

I hope Cressida Dick is sacked, as she should have been after JCDM. I see Priti Patel is desperately trying to back away from the shit show, as if she didn't enjoy every minute of the footage from last night.

And there will be more of this if the Police and Crime bill in Parliament tomorrow goes through.

@LadyGAgain

Agree with your post. I actually think the indecency act was four days before which makes it even worse.

And there will be more of this if the Police and Crime bill in Parliament tomorrow goes through

^ This.

We should all be very worried.

@BarometerTV

And a don’t think turning into a country that hates our police is going to help anyone.

I don't hate police officers.

I hate the systemic sexism, misogyny and racism that exist within the police service.

As I've said, my father and most family friends are in the force. They feel the same because it makes their job harder, they try to challenge from the inside but the problem with systemic issues is that individuals cannot make meaningful change it needs to be something done in huge numbers. Unfortunately that hasn't happened from within.

And if you see the country turning into one that you think hates the police, ask yourself why that might have happened?

@BarometerTV

I’m sorry - but maybe the difference here is that I respect the vast majority of police officers, I respect that a protest was not supposed to be going ahead last night, I respect that we are in lockdown.

I respect the ones who don't demonstrate that the Met, an organisation led by a woman, behaves in a way that sends out the message that it's ok to treat women like this.

No wonder an alleged kidnapper, sexual offender and murderer has allegedly carried out his crime. It's obviously not seen as unacceptable to mistreat women if you work in the Met.

Couldn’t agree more. Such stupid actions in lockdown.
Police were correct to disperse it and arrest those not being peaceful and just leaving.
Always the same idiots 🤦‍♀️ Rebels without a cause so jump on any one going.

It doesn't matter what you call it - vigil, protest, whatever - it was illegal.

It doesn't matter that someone asked the police to allow it. They couldn't authorise it because it's illegal under current legislation.

I'm not sure why it's being made out to be all the police's fault.

ACAB is not BLM thing.

It's been around for a whole century here in the UK.

Many are the knuckles of ex inmates tagged with those initials, now in their 70s and 80s. Thankfully diy inking fades.

As always, the rent a mob turn up with their own agenda to hijack a peaceful event - which due to a virus should not have been happening and I thought had been called off by the organisers? And then you get a riot.

Yes, a poor comparison with the football yobs ( the holy game where none can do wrong) but they are outside the met police area so not Cressida Dick's fault.

@Roussette

And there will be more of this if the Police and Crime bill in Parliament tomorrow goes through

^ This.

We should all be very worried.

I agree @Roussette - it is extremely worrying.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Your post is riddled with bullshit. ACAB did not stem from BLM. ACAB but it has absolutely nothing to do with BLM. Shame on you.

@SofiaMichelle look at the way the police handled Rangers Fans celebrating winning the title. It's appalling the way the police handled it last night. Have you seen the video of the women standing/sitting there peacefully then getting attacked by police?

@BarometerTV

I would suspect that some people were there to protest, and that was wrong.

There's a video of the lady with the red hair who was pictured being held down by police, in which she is referring to it as a "protest".

Why are people actually shocked at police brutality? Do you also get shocked when you touch something hot and it burns your hand?

Nah, FUCK that! YABVU. Get angry at how the government is treating women, FFS.

And a don’t think turning into a country that hates our police is going to help anyone

If that happens then it's on the police.

My take is some of the people there were looking to get arrested for the publicity.

Seems to be quite a well orchestrated PR machine behind the 'spontaneous" protests.

'My take is some of the people there were looking to get arrested for the publicity.

Seems to be quite a well orchestrated PR machine behind the 'spontaneous" protests'

Where in god's name did you get that from.
That is some reach

CuriousaboutSamphire

Yes. And they were not women, not there to mourn the death of a woman.

Yet they were left unhindered...

Quite. I saw this on twitter

Did they misread it, or is it another salvo in the culture wars?

@BarometerTV

And a don’t think turning into a country that hates our police is going to help anyone.

It's not hate. It's distrust. Lack of faith. Realising that, actually, there is another group of people that the police in general are quite happy to flatten if they show signs of getting above themselves and pointing out shortcomings.

Middleclass white women that haven't got a background in environmental protesting are realising it later than WC/Poor women, abused girls in care, WC/Poor males, anybody black, anybody with mental illnesses, etc, did, that's all.

MC white males - you're sound. The rest of us? Watch your backs.

DH has had plenty of dealings with the Met over the years from following Championship football. They are thugs, pure and simple. DH has seen it all, assaults on men and women for walking the wrong way down a street for example, and arresting men in front of their frightened kids just for answering back. When you complain, they close ranks. When you try and sue, they get better lawyers.

I didn't support XR or BLM but I understand why the Met are so hated. They are so institutionally racist, sexist, classist and homophobic you cannot trust them, at all. The commissioner is incompetent.

The Met are blaming the public. I find that rich considering the vigil was peaceful until they barged in. They do the same with football fans, and with protests in general. Everything is peaceful then the Met barge in and antagonise everyone, leading to riots.

Covid is not the reason to behave this way. There is a much lower risk of infection outdoors. In my opinion it was simply thuggery and an attempt to silence women. I thought the Met were rotten before but now I just have no words as to how angry I am.

I'm glad you respect the police OP even if one of them is potentially responsible for the murder of Sarah.

I'm absolutely livid that the report of him exposing himself days earlier was not investigated.

Then the police turn up to the peaceful vigil, crowd everyone together by kettling them and trampling all over the flower tributes, causing panic and inflaming the situation. Sorry I do not respect the police when it comes to women's rights.

*@ancientgran * well said