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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be angry at the frenzy caused by others last night

999 replies

BarometerTV · 14/03/2021 12:56

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.

OP posts:
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11
Tangogolf55 · 14/03/2021 17:44

Since when do people attend vigils with massive placards…

Theluggage15 · 14/03/2021 17:45

As I’ve said before my daughter and her friends were there and said the atmosphere was nice and peaceful until at what seemed some sort of signal, the police barged forward, kettling people, mainly women of course, went onto the bandstand and started manhandling a woman. That’s when the atmosphere changed. All of the trouble was caused by the actions of the police.

The bleating of the police today that people were close together was because they were pushed together.

The event was not just about Sarah Everard, it was about the reaction to her murder which included a lot of comments about her being irresponsible to walk home in the dark etc. The usual victim blaming of women who are meant to adjust their behaviour because of violent men. You carry on in your silly ignorance op.

The BLM protests were actually against the rules too but funnily enough the police stood back for them.

mbosnz · 14/03/2021 17:47

I do think the Met is feeling defensive, and that looked awfully like it was operating under the premise 'the best form of defense is attack'.

Roussette · 14/03/2021 17:49

@Theluggage15
You and others on here who were actually there are the people I listen to.
Thank you.

Poorlykitten · 14/03/2021 17:51

Funny how in Glasgow, just a few days ago, a marauding crowd of football hooligans where escorted gently by the police through the city but women quietly trying to hold a candlelit vigil were totally leapt on by the Met???

LucieStar · 14/03/2021 17:52

@SquirmOfEels

Patsy herself (the redhead who was arrested) says if you watch her interview online "it was a peaceful protest until the police arrived". She calls it that herself

If she means peaceful in the sense that no one in the crowd was fighting between each other, then correct. But she is utterly overlooking how crowded it was getting, and how the chanting changed. And how the initial requests for dispersal were met

It was meant to be a vigil Sad

I completely agree.

Poorlykitten · 14/03/2021 17:52

@Tangogolf55 all the time.

LucieStar · 14/03/2021 17:53

@Tangogolf55

Since when do people attend vigils with massive placards…

Quite

User133847 · 14/03/2021 17:53

The murder was horrific and tragic and the reaction it's stirred up is warranted.

It's shades of Diana again though. People feeling the need to grieve in public for someone they didn't know or never met. Added to the fact we're in lockdown.

Labobo · 14/03/2021 17:53

@CuriousaboutSamphire

I wouldn't have gone BUT would question:

Why is there a seeming pattern against women gathering?

Why was there a media scrum at the bandstand prior to women arriving?

Why didn't the police move them on?

Why was there a vociferous group of 'agitators' there?

Why weren't they moved on?

Why did the police not focus on those people who were shouting, causing a ruckus?

Why did the police kettle the women who weren't doing anythy other than standing?

Who made the operational decision to disperse women standing peacefully and not the other people who were equally illegally in that space and were initially causing a disturbance?

However you view the actions of the women who chose to gather, there are more underlying issues that need to see daylight.

Absolutely
User133847 · 14/03/2021 17:54

@Poorlykitten

Funny how in Glasgow, just a few days ago, a marauding crowd of football hooligans where escorted gently by the police through the city but women quietly trying to hold a candlelit vigil were totally leapt on by the Met???
Isn't the Met commissioner a woman?
Whatafustercluck · 14/03/2021 17:54

The Met couldn't possibly have got this more wrong. What should have happened:

  1. Engagement with organisers to ensure it could go ahead Covid safe.
  2. Police officers milling around, chatting to women - like they often do at festivals.
  3. Police officers stand respectfully shining torches.
  4. Everyone goes home feeling that they've honoured that poor woman respectfully.

Instead we had an illegal event, full of women who were rightly outraged about lack of police interaction to ensure they could mark a woman's murder safely. Followed by kettling as soon as the sun went down. Way to make women feel safe and empowered after dark. I am disgusted.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 14/03/2021 17:56

Yes women, be quiet and nice and respectful and just put up with VAWG, because staying quiet and putting up works so well.

YABU. If I lived there did have been there with them. Shame on the police for their heavy handedness and general attitude. I was one Tweet with a tiny wee scratch on her neck about how awful it was. Nothing to say about her murdering colleague and how awful it was for his victim though

Poorlykitten · 14/03/2021 17:57

I’m disgusted too. And yes, it was about Sarah but also the wider implications related to all women’s safety, which is clearly not a priority.

SquirmOfEels · 14/03/2021 17:57

@mbosnz

Allegedly the bunching occurred because of the police actively herding protestors closer together - and there is footage that supports that.

Why were they tightly ringed around the rotunda? The crowd didn't look as if it were about to attack the ruddy flowers.

I don't know why, I just know that they were. It was so densely packed that you could not move through the crowd.

The police were not 'herding' protesters

Yes, the police approached, but only from one side. If people had moved back as asked, it would have been a non-issue

It's notable that commemorations have been taking place all weekend, and only for a couple of hours was there any intervention. Perhaps worth asking what changed such that hands off policing wasnt sustainable.

It wasn't the presence of well distanced crowds commemorating Sarah. No intervention then.

DuncinToffee · 14/03/2021 17:58

From Sky News

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick says officers policing yesterday's vigil for Sarah Everard on Clapham Common felt "quite rightly" that it was an "unlawful gathering" which posed "a considerable risk to people's health".

Latest: news.sky.com/story/london-mayor-not-satisfied-by-met-chiefs-explanation-for-completely-unacceptable-policing-at-vigil-12246023

Doyoumind · 14/03/2021 18:00

There were people there for a vigil. And there were people there to protest. I don't think that can be disputed and that is what I'm angry about.

Original poster
BarometerTV · 14/03/2021 18:00

So the police were punched, kicked and spat at...people went with pre meditated banners - is that what you do at a vigil??

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 14/03/2021 18:02

Since they were part of the later arriving groups, as far as I can tell.

Whatafustercluck · 14/03/2021 18:02

The thing about Dick's statement is that it merely serves to illustrate the massive inconsistencies and double standards applied throughout Covid to policing illegal gatherings. If you're a group of football supporters or anti maskers you can gather, and police will facilitate your safety. If you're a woman, forget it.

WannabeOT · 14/03/2021 18:02

Covid doesn't trump everything else. The world continues to turn.

LucieStar · 14/03/2021 18:03

@BarometerTV

So the police were punched, kicked and spat at...people went with pre meditated banners - is that what you do at a vigil??

There's also footage of the police being "chased" by protesters.

User133847 · 14/03/2021 18:04

@BarometerTV

So the police were punched, kicked and spat at...people went with pre meditated banners - is that what you do at a vigil??
Anyone caught spitting at police (given the pandemic especially) must be hit with a long jail term.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 14/03/2021 18:06

@BarometerTV

So the police were punched, kicked and spat at...people went with pre meditated banners - is that what you do at a vigil??
There were, going by various SM postings, a number of factions.

Day time vigil that was held under the eye of the police.

Evening drew in and others arrived, make and female, including more media. It seems to be the later arriving factions that caused the fuss and women in general who got caught up in the police action.

Not sure about the woman that was filmed being arrested, but she was not attending for the vigil!

BonnieDundee · 14/03/2021 18:07

So the police were punched, kicked and spat at.

I havent seen that reported. Do you have a link?