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.

You have posted countless times on that thread,

Yes - because I've been misrepresented and taken out of context and accused of all kinds, multiple times! Anyone would defend themselves against that.

@BonnieDundee

The alleged actions of one police officer doesn’t mean I don’t trust “the police”. That’s as ridiculous as saying I refuse to go to my GP because of Harold Shipman.

It's not one police officer though is it?

No, it is not.

@FerrisWheelTrain

I think that stereotypes exist - and they often are founded in some basis of truth. Stereotypes allow you to make quick assumptions In a flight of fight situation. However, as society progresses - we challenge these stereotypes as it’s wrong to assume that certain groups of people always behave in a particular way. My concern here is that the female stereotype of weak, meek, defenceless is being pitted against a male stereotype of dominant, overpowering, violent. This is counter productive? Surely?

I think it's an unhelpful stereotype too.

In response to the ‘it’s not just one police officer’ comment I’d add that it’s not just one
GP either who is struck off each year but we still don’t see any protests against GP’s as a homogenous group.

And actually yes, at least one of the women arrested was chanting. She was clearly shown on video, no social distancing, no face covering and shouting ‘f* the police’. Not really my definition of ‘quietly sitting down and minding her own business’.

And actually yes, at least one of the women arrested was chanting. She was clearly shown on video, no social distancing, no face covering and shouting ‘f the police’. Not really my definition of ‘quietly sitting down and minding her own business’.*

Before or after she was arrested?

I obviously can't speak for all the arrests, but the woman who was arrested on the podium was - at the point of arrest - sitting quietly, as were other women who were threatened with arrest.

I ask once again: why is everyone pointedly ignoring the fact police harassed and threatened the OPCC-appointed Independent Observers?

And the fact police ignored and refused to arrest the violent or aggressive male protestors, including the four anti-maskers and the man with the loudhailer, but instead exclusively targeted women?

I’ll have another look for the video I saw online yesterday but it was very definitely before she was arrested as she was in a large crowd of others.

Thought this was an interesting link;

news.sky.com/story/sarah-everard-vigil-what-sparked-the-ugly-scenes-and-were-the-police-tactics-warranted-12247074

it was very definitely before she was arrested as she was in a large crowd of others.
Most of the women who were arrested were released minutes later and rejoined the protest, so that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

So you’re suggesting she was arrested for covid restriction infringements and headed straight back into a huge crowd with zero social distancing and no face covering?

They weren't arrested for "covid restriction infringement" - I'm not sure what the actual laws are for police to arrest people for being in a public park.

And please stop using Covid as an excuse, if the police gave a single shiny shit about Covid they wouldn't have kettled women, wouldn't have prevented women from leaving, and wouldn't have inflamed a peaceful vigil.

Again: why are certain posters pointedly ignoring the fact police harassed and threatened the OPCC-appointed Independent Observers?

And the fact police ignored and refused to arrest the violent or aggressive male protestors, including the four anti-maskers and the man with the loudhailer, but instead exclusively targeted women?

[quote Dorsetdays]I’ll have another look for the video I saw online yesterday but it was very definitely before she was arrested as she was in a large crowd of others.

Thought this was an interesting link;

news.sky.com/story/sarah-everard-vigil-what-sparked-the-ugly-scenes-and-were-the-police-tactics-warranted-12247074[/quote]

That seems to be quite a comprehensive overview.

And a few months ago everyone was posting the thin blue line on their FB in support of Andrew Harper...

Out of the four arrests, one was male? Bearing in mind the gender makeup of the crowd I’d say that doesn’t sound like massively targeting females.

The actual law on being in a public place is pretty clear currently based on the fact we’re in the middle of a pandemic and still in lockdown. It’s simple - socially distanced and wearing face coverings.

Breach that and you’re liable to be fined...which is what happened.

Doesn't change the fact police ignored actual aggression and violence from a very small group of anti-mask protestors, and instead were hassling Independent Observers.

@Dorsetdays

Out of the four arrests, one was male? Bearing in mind the gender makeup of the crowd I’d say that doesn’t sound like massively targeting females.

The actual law on being in a public place is pretty clear currently based on the fact we’re in the middle of a pandemic and still in lockdown. It’s simple - socially distanced and wearing face coverings.

Breach that and you’re liable to be fined...which is what happened.

Again, it was very unclear whether the restrictions applied because of COVID. The High Court did not agree with the police.

How you are so sure when they couldn’t decide is interesting.

Again: the police were the ones forcing people to disregard social distancing.

The police arrested women who were wearing masks, and ignored men who were not only mask-less, but actively hijacking the event to spread anti-masker and covid-denial nonsense.

Clearly the police were using Covid as an excuse to put women in their place.

The actual law on being in a public place is pretty clear

Yes, that it's completely legal to be outside in a public place.

Not in a group of 500+ people with no social distancing and not wearing face coverings it isn’t.

@LucieStar

They were asked to move on. Half an hour later they still had not moved on and were encouraging others to do the same by chanting. Enciting others to break law. Encouraging the volatile situation to get even more out of hand. So they were arrested. Tell me, how do you think the police are supposed to arrest people in these protest situations. Should they politely say "excuse me but you please come with me " which is probably what they'd already been saying, and if the protester refuses, clings onto the bandstand railings, incites others to break the law and scream abuse. Did they think the police would just say "ok madam, have a nice evening" and leave it?

I wondered this, too.
After repeatedly asking people to move on and being ignored, what exactly is their next move supposed to be?

That’s what they did with Extinction Rebellion in Cambridge last summer. Swathes of one of the college gardens were dug up and the police just stood and watched. Of course the diggers weren’t women. They didn’t appear to do much in Bristol last summer either. And the guy who pissed on Keith Palmer’s memorial was ignored until there was public outcry too.

Breach that and you’re liable to be fined...which is what happened

Exactly, actions have consequences. Why do some think they are above the law?

They were asked to move on. Half an hour later they still had not moved on and were encouraging others to do the same by chanting. Enciting others to break law. Encouraging the volatile situation to get even more out of hand. So they were arrested. Tell me, how do you think the police are supposed to arrest people in these protest situations. Should they politely say "excuse me but you please come with me " which is probably what they'd already been saying, and if the protester refuses, clings onto the bandstand railings, incites others to break the law and scream abuse. Did they think the police would just say "ok madam, have a nice evening" and leave it

Exactly, some posters appear to be used to attending protests often. Why do they pretend that they ignore how things work? It's baffling and surreal

Oh for crying out loud. They all should have been fined for breech of covid rules and be exempt from being offered hospital treatment related to covid.

There's plenty of evidence of systemic problems within the Met Police, and a culture that allows brutality and other problems like systemic racism to grow

I don't agree with this at all, and it's wrong to generalise and taint a whole force like this. There's no 'culture' or 'systemic' issues to speak of whatsoever here.

Exactly Countrygirl2021

And I have no connections to the Met, so my view is not biased in any way, just common sense