They are NOT protests, they are riots and terrorist attacks

[Stripedchutney]

AIBU to be so angry at the use of ‘protest’ when it’s clear that these are race related violent riots and terrorist attacks. I’m finding myself shouting at the TV!!

Prison sentences of months whereas JSO protestors got years!! I’m beyond angry.

These are not terrorist attacks, but extremist ones.

Extremism and Terrorism can overlap, i.e., one can progress to the other, but they're not the same. Especially since Extremism stops short of what Terrorism does.

Also each case is judged on their own merits. JSO were involved in a conspiracy which was intended to have a far more catastrophic impact than was the case as the judge noted. They'd have been looking at 10 years if they'd succeeded, according to the judge.

Were those involved in rioting part of a conspiracy, were they charged with conspiracy? Or were they more opportunistic?

If not, then don't draw a comparison between them as that is False Equivalence Fallacy.

Conspiracy charges are very serious and have harsher sentences than opportunistic ones for good reason.

They are not protests though. Extremist is fine. Protests is not.

3 years for punching a police officer is pathetic.

Agreed, absolutely thick moronic imbeciles. I'm hoping they all get sentenced to long jail times!

It's difficult to stop stupid. Long prison sentences may deter others, though.

To clarify...do you think 3 years for that particular crime is too little or too much?

OP - I agree with you BUT lots on mumsnet dont see it that way

They are making out its their patriotism and anger and are entitled to be angry and ‘protest’ but it is pure Racism!!!

Too little.

Pure racism. It’s so clear. I’m so cross with the BBC for calling it ‘protest’. I have friends who are scared to eat out, go to work, are living in fear, just because of the colour of their skin. NHS workers in amongst them.

JSO protestors:

‘conspiracy to cause a public nuisance for coordinating direct action protests on the M25 over four days in November 2022.
Hallam received a five-year sentence on Thursday, while the other four were each sentenced to four years.’

For causing travel disruption. Yet these thugs got maximum three years for rioting, violence towards police, causing terror for many.

What the hell is wrong with this country?

Desmond Tutu 1931– 
South African Anglican clergyman

1. If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.

Calling this stuff a protest is neutral. It should be called what it is - incitement to racial hatred, racist fuelled rioting and violence and terrorism.

Peaceful protests are one of the cornerstones of democracy. These however are not peaceful protests.

OP, out of interest, what are your thoughts on the Manchester Airport incident?
Do you think whichever brother punched the female police officer (breaking her nose allegedly) should also get more than a 3 year prison sentence?

Not protests in the slightest. Just an excuse for stupid men to brick and spit at the police. The bandwagon is well and truly rolling now though. They all deserve a good kicking from the police.

I don’t know enough about that incident to comment. What I think though is that these riots are designed to create fear and terror and they have been planned in advance to undermine our sense of safety.

It’s fine to have differing views on immigration. It’s fine use our democratic rights to discuss those issues. It’s not ok to stir up racial hatred with lies and organise angry mobs to deliberately cause fear and harm to the global majority (UK minorities).

This is beyond protest. This is mob rule and they need more than a poxy three year prison sentence. This is organised violence.

You really are minimising what the Judge specifically said about JSO and STILL attempting the False Equivalence Fallacy in order to do so.

I suggest you read the Judge's Sentencing Remarks. Here's some excerpts. 👇

JSO convicts were involved in planning it and their intent was proven via their own Zoom call. Hoisted by their own petard! Plenty of evidence.

JSO also attempted to seriously disrupt the court proceedings.

JSO intended more than disrupting traffic as the judge noted.

Watching clips like this will give you a laugh

Two more from the Judge's Sentencing Remarks on JSO convicts. 👇

Again, they'd have gotten 10 years in prison if they succeeded in what they intended to cause. 🧐

I don't consider these terrorist attacks at all . There are not random kill anyone bombings or shootings . They are nasty but not imo terrorism .

What shocked me was the YouGov survey saying 1 in 3 people had sympathy for them , so I'm guessing this means people would not be out in the streets but do understand / sympathise with the cause .

These are riots not protests. There is no equivalence. The sentencing should be greater. The fear and terror these acts are deliberately trying to create is way beyond anything JSO ever did. I’m absolutely appalled that these people are being talked about and treated just like you would a bloke who got too drunk on a night out and punched a police officer. This is deliberately organised, racist terror inducing violence. This is like gang warfare. I can’t believe the neutral language and minimising of just how abhorrent this is.

I saw that in the DM but when you read the actual results over 80% don’t agree with these tactics. I’m also unsure of their sampling methods. Most people I know are finding this shocking, abhorrent and feel strongly that these are violent thugs with no clear political aim.

Whatever you think to their sentences, my point still stands that these organised gangs of people, listing targets to go and intimidate are acting in far worse ways!

I agree with you, OP. It's so shocking and devastating. It suggests our country's priorities are about protecting violent males, rather than caring about ethnic minorities living in fear, or about the future of our, well, everything, under climate change. Absolutely horrifying.

It's sent a very clear message that, if you want to be heard, it's best to riot rather than plan a non-violent protest.

Nothing funny in that.