To take DD to the Extinction Rebellion protest next weekend?

[Rainallnight]

DD is 6, going on 7. Saturday is some sort of family oriented Earth day. I’d like to take her because I think it’s an important historical moment in the climate crisis.

BUT I have no idea if it’s safe, or even whether getting there and back will be a nightmare for small people.

Has anyone taken DC to one of these before? Is it manageable?

I want to see how much mess left behind after those interested in the environment have protested. Bet there’s a shed load for someone else to clear up.

The events I’ve been to have been managed very responsibly.

Much more responsibly than our government looks after our waterways and beaches, our air, our emissions…,

When you say “managed” do you mean everyone taking their ( non plastic, reusable hopefully) mess home or as I guess, other people clearing up after them.

If you want to drag her along to support the kind of selfish people who block ambulances for their cause then go for it.

Seems selfish of you though....wouldn't she enjoy something more age appropriate?

Go along and find out…

We took our dc on a couple of (anti) brexit marches and they were a great experience. We had a good ratio of adults to children and knew where we could duck out if needed.

Next weekend is definitely intended to be peaceful and lots of groups are involved not just XR. That said, while lots of our family members are going on Saturday, we’ve decided against taking the dc this time. Partly because of our careers (with how anti-protest the current government are I worry they could turn it nasty) and also just because things feel so much more hostile post covid. So while I’m not anti taking dc on marches / protests in general, my gut feeling is to avoid this one with them.

No offence OP but it's a pretty stupid move and you can easily get caught up in being kettled if you happen to be in the wrong place next to some who might kick off!

The best will in the world to have it as a "family protest" doesn't mean all will be of the same mindset and 6/7 is way way too young to be caught in that sort of crowd.

Agree with others there are different and safer ways to teach her about climate change!

Not quite the same thing but I got caught up in London pride last year with my kids (10 and 12 so not small). Accidentally got stuck in the middle of it all in soho. It was awful. Really quite scared for a few minutes. The place was rammed and all were a bit the worse for wear. We couldn’t get out, it was horrible. Lots of large adult men just blocking us and crushing past. We’d really enjoyed the outskirts of it all earlier in day so it was a bit of a shock. I’m used to London and consider myself competent and able to handle myself but the girls were frightened.
I would be take my children to a protest unless it was one specifically arranged for families.

The same XR where women (only the old fashioned kind) protested semi naked? That XR?

YANBU if you’re going there to laugh at them, ridicule them, shame them and/or tell them what bellends they are 🤷‍♀️

It’s not safe, though. They’re crazy people.

This you, OP?

Rainallnight · 05/04/2023 08:15
We didn’t get on with the Yoto and got a Kids’ Alexa. It’s great. It’s set up so they can’t access inappropriate content (I’ve tested it when the kids aren’t around by saying stuff like ‘Alexa, what’s sex?’ And it always tells me to ask a grown up!)

You've bought your child multiple tablets, including one from Amazon, but you want to virtue signal by taking her to an XR 'protest'? I think that's one of the most perfect examples of utter hypocrisy I've ever seen.

But it encapsulates XR 100 percent.

I wouldn’t take her at all, because we should teach children to make a difference. Not to spend their time shouting, intimidating people and damaging property.

Don’t be Greta Thunberg who ditched a large proportion of her education and whose antics were only tolerated until she became an adult. Be Boyan Slat.

I personally would never gaslight my children, but each to their own.

I personally would never have children if I thought the world was a shit place to live which humans were damaging, but each to their own.

I wouldn't be concerned about what they are advertising, I would worry more about the more extreme elements that are very likely to be there and have their own agenda.

Why not find an eco-friendly activity - and go and get involved in that.

Sometimes action means doing something, rather than just shouting.

Honestly the hysteria on here! It's perfectly safe, very well organised with trained stewards (as there has to be for any organised event!), first aiders as well as police.

I've taken all of mine and never felt unsafe or seen any violence/aggression. Indeed I actually (finally!) learned how to breastfeed a baby in a sling at an XR march from another mum!

There will be lots of other families and lots for kids to see and do. Look up "Extinction Rebellion Families [your area]" - there will almost certainly be a group going together if that feels safer for you. (If you can't find anything feel free to DM me and I'll see if I can help link you up).

YABU. Posters above have already given plenty of reasons why so won’t repeat, but I wouldn’t be comfortable taking a child - or even going myself if I’m honest!

Classic Mumsnet 😂😂😂

It's not just extinction rebellion there are family focused groups going. I really want to go because if enough people demonstrate the desire for change it might influence things but I think the risk of being stuck in London with no easy options to get and with two relatively young children is too high.

I'd go. XR families are very chilled out, meet up with them, have lots of snacks and water and work out where all the available toilets along the route are.

Here's the thing: So many of you are assuming that my family is going to protest having done nothing else to combat climate change. We have. We lobby our MPs and local councillors. We write letters. We pick up plastic off our beach daily. We intentionally live in a small house, eat locally and plant-based, and don't own a car. We have helped our church earn a Silver Eco Church award and got our church and diocese to divest from fossil fuels. We read books about how to increase biodiversity and have gotten our council to mow less. I support my DDs school to garden and have an eco club. But when my six year old says things like "Why is there still plastic on the ground every day? Why isn't everyone doing something to stop the coral reefs from dying?" I literally don't know what else to do to make the government to pay attention.

I am not just doing this protest with them, I am doing it FOR them.

I have no problem taking children that age to protests, providing they are safe and peaceful. I think it’s important to help them develop a social conscience and to foster an understanding that we should stand up for worthy causes. I wouldn’t even consider attending an Extinction Rebellion protest though… their tactics are horrible, they seem like a bunch of attention seeking students as opposed to a well organised group of people fighting for a common interest… they cause chaos for chaos sake. Not something I’d want my children to aspire to.

There is a strong opposition to ER, so any planned events will likely result in the opposition turning up and things getting heated. So I would avoid.

Bear in mind that on Sunday, a lot of businesses near the Marathon route don't let in passers by to use the loos (even if they usually do) So allow plenty of time to queue for public conveniences (the portaloos for participants can't be reached by non-runners as they're all on the race side of crowd control barriers)