Why the need to cover up ?

[NecessaryNC24]

Genuine question: why do pro -Hamas protesters feel the need to cover their faces during protests.

Are you ultimately ashamed ?

If that was the reason I would understand, to be affiliated with terrorists, where actual infants are still held as hostages if not actually dead yet, yeah I'd be truly ashamed.

Personally I would be more ashamed to support a country that is currently committing genocide.

lionlass. I couldn't have put it better myself

Hamas 🤢

I assume by 'pro-Hamas' you also mean pro-Palestine/anti-bombing of Gaza

Some of them are rent-a-mob

Some of them are scared of getting on a list somewhere (I know I would be)

Just for the record, I deplore any and all harm caused to civilians in this horrible war. I don't care where someone comes from, they should be able to live in peace.

Pro Hamas??? Or did you mean people who object to the genocide of the Palestinian people?

Many protestors cover their faces BC they fear repucussions from the police etc.
I presume you mean pro-palestine rather than pro-hamas? What's going on over there is horrific and people have every right to protest. People can cover their faces when they go to Tesco, so why not when marching or protesting legally?

Many people wear masks at protests and events, for a range of different reasons. It's not just a pro-Palestinian protest thing.

EDL people and the like often use face coverings so they can't be identified and outed as nasty violent racists.

Some people choose to wear face coverings because there can be a real risk of them and their families being targeted and harassed due to identification on social media.

Some people wear face coverings because of infection control/ air pollution/ etc.

Some people wear face coverings for cultural or religious reasons.

No one should be covering their faces if they truly believe in that cause.

A native statement by someone who has clearly grown up in a free country.

I'm guessing you've never experienced doxxing, stalking and harassment then, including threats to harm loved ones... If you had, you might understand why people might want to show support but still maintain a degree of privacy for their own safety.

I'm guessing you meant pro-Palestine rather than pro-Hamas, @NecessaryNC24 .

For the small number of unpleasant people who do commit the criminal offence of demonstrating support for a proscribed terrorist organisation, I would imagine that a contributing factor to their decision-making about wearing a mask or other face covering is likely to be that they're committing a criminal offence. If you see people committing this offence (or other offences), you should report it to the police.

No. We have had Jewish people terrified to walk the streets of London. We are not in Palestine this is the U.K. If you’re going to be a part of that - don’t be a coward show your face. Stand by what you believe. You are walking amongst Hamas sympathisers.

What’s happening in Palestine is awful but it’s beyond the reach of the U.K. These matches are something else.

You seem very angry, @Hugosmaid , and I'm not sure why that anger is being directed at me, when all I've said is an explanation of why people on protests (of all sorts) might choose to wear face coverings.

People have lost their jobs for being Pro Palestinian. Lots of people regard pro Palestinian protesters as mobs of antisemitic Hamas supporters, if my boss was one of those I would probably hide my face too. You only have to see the hostility here on mumsnet to know that it is true. Thread after thread insulting those who stand up for Palestine, really vile, nasty stuff. Since this conflict started standing against war crimes and crimes against humanity has suddenly become controversial, some people want to protect themselves and their families and I don't blame them.

@NecessaryNC24 , why do you presume there are pro-Hamas supporters on mn that can answer you? I've never seen any.

Pro- Hamas 🙄
If you look at all the marches that have taken place then there's well over a million participants.
Are you saying they are all pro Hamas?

Exactly

@Hugosmaid are you bored? Has it been too long since someone has put down the Palestinians?
Have you been on the marches or have you just watched the carefully filmed footage? I have been to every single one and the large majority actually do not wear masks.
Don't play the Hamas card. You know full well what the marches are about. If you don't, come along and see for yourself and listen to the speeches. If you are Jewish you will be welcomed and treated with respect. Many Jewish men wearing the yarmulke/kippha march with us.

I keep telling myself not to respond to these threads as you really don't want an answer. You just want to goad and insult.

Why don't you ask this guy?

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/16/us/ucla-student-protests-counterprotesters-invs/index.html

And we're protesting to stop the genocide against the Palestinians, not in support of Hamas.

Why were pro Israeli protesters wearing face coverings this week? Presumably to protect their identity which is their right.

Are you outraged about that?

@10UsernamesNotAvailableTryAnotherOne at least his mummy is proud of him. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Although she probably should have considered the implications of outing her son and his criminal conduct to the world.

@NecessaryNC24 equally, a question one could pose would be 'why do protestors sometimes openly show their faces?' when they know it could open them up to having their day to day lives impacted simply by exercising their right to share their views?
If some believe the reasons why people cover their faces in marches etc is they're ashamed, I think it's the opposite. Obviously they don't want to be personally singled out by those who opposed their views. In the protest marches, people are acting as one of many. Their cause and purpose is more important than one person's identity being obvious.

When I was a young teenager a police officer told my parents he saw a photo of me at a protest against the war in Iraq in a police file. I don't cover my face at protests but I am not thrilled to know that the police keep my photo on file when I exercise some basic democratic rights. So covering one's face is probably wise in many cases.