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.

We live in the UK. We do live in a world where violence, harassment and danger do not occur to their families if they express legitimate views on politics and human rights.

Unfortunately, many in the Pro Palestinian marches are expressing illegal views. It is why they should not wear face coverings. The marches are a cover for a minority of people perpetuating racial hatred.

So it's a no to face coverings from me in this context - even for health reasons. Simply do not go if your health is up to it.

Yes, and I agree. Of course the suffering and murder of women and children in war (not just this one) should be a priority. It's a subject only given token acknowledgement in a world where war is constructed by men, almost entirely for men.

I was actually pointing out that women and children, along with minority and vulnerable groups, have been subjected to violence and a complete absence of representation or justice for years under Hamas.

Your suggestion that I was concerned about a lack of gay pride parades in Gaza was incredibly demeaning and insulting.

Somebody said something incorrect. They realised what they said was incorrect. They apologised and retracted their initial comment.

@Hugosmaid what the hell do you not understand? If I thought it was fake I wouldn't have apologised. Just bloody drop it. What is your problem? I've admitted in a public forum I was mistaken.

If you genuinely believe that about the UK, you live a much more sheltered life than I do.

I live in the UK. I have faced those things here, in the UK.

It's not a nice thing to think happens in the country where we live, but it's reality.

Having been to many political and humanitarian events around the country, I have encountered very little actual illegality among others attending. The claims of 'many' people holding illegal views are untrue.

And wanting to prevent disabled people or people with health conditions from expressing their views is discrimination. Wearing face coverings can be considered a reasonable adjustment to enable people to exercise their rights.

Last month, for example, a lovely pro-IDF gentleman tried to follow me to my car after an event. I suspect the bulge in his trousers was a weapon, rather than him being pleased to see me.

Did you call the police?

And I am sure you would have been terrified if he had been wearing a mask.

Your anecdote proves my point.

I suspect that, if the same post had been written by a non-Muslim/non-pro-ceasefire poster, about a pro-ceasefire individual trying to follow them and trying to intimidate them, the first thing someone wrote in response would have been an expression of support and empathy. Not asking what the person being followed did, or saying how that proves people in the poster's situation should be prevented from wearing things to make identifying them less easy.

This is an example of the double standards people employ when they hear experiences from certain groups.

I've been followed by men in masks before. I've been followed by men out of masks before. They're the same - they're cowards and bullies. The point is that, if these sorts of people are actively trying to identify innocent people who are campaigning for human rights and peace, and then use that information to engage in violence and intimidation against those innocent people and their families, is it really so hard to see why some people might want to wear a face covering for privacy reasons?

Don't agree. I have no double standards.

Nobody should be wearing face coverings at these protests -if I had my way, I would not allow them anywhere except where he bearer had a signed off ID and medical certificate to produce on demand.

This is what triggered my post.

I watched the footage in Finchley, the local Jewish community were all bare-faced, nothing to hide.

The other side were mostly wrapped up.

Its Sinister.

I agree - I don’t think face coverings should be allowed at any protest ( Pro Palestine or EDL or pro Israeli.) I think face coverings make people more confident about saying and doing objectionable things . Anonymity releases all sorts of ugliness on line and I don’t think people should disguise their identity/ face in a public place .
An example- I’ve seen young boys tearing around on bikes with dark balaclavas that totally conceal their identity. Nothing to do with a political protest but everything to do a desire to intimidate and behave in aggressive/ illegal ways.
Face covering should definitely be banned. (And if someone’s health is vulnerable they should avoid a crowded protest)

And how do you propose to enforce that?

That's not the point.

Why, if you're proud of your Cause, are you HIDING?

As I've already posted, there are multiple reasons why people might choose to wear a face covering.

But why, as we saw in Finchley, were one side covering up and not the other?

Well, maybe some of the factors that contribute to people's decisions weighed differently for people in different situations.

For example, I pose far less of a risk to a far-right thug than they do to me. I would have more at risk if they were to identify and target me. That might influence my decision-making about attendance and about what to wear, etc.

Have you not read people's posts? It doesn't matter if you are proud of your cause or not, you may be targeted for being pro Palestinian. In Australia a man tried to bomb someone's house because they had a Palestinian flag, in the US teenagers were shot because they were wearing keffiyeh. Are you saying people should be willing to die for the cause, put their families in danger?

We get it. You don't like pro Palestinian protesters. People are well aware that there is a section of society that demonise people who support the Palestinian people, it's sad that it is that way but unfortunately the media(and the British government) have whipped up quite the mob and that has left some people feeling vulnerable. You clearly aren't going to change your mind because depiste people answering repeatedly you have chosen to ignore them so I'm not sure why you even started this thread except perhaps to give people the chance to have a go at people who support Palestinians again. This type of thing shows exactly why some people may not want their name or face associated with their activism. Some people will not listen and will just demonise and perhaps endanger them or their livlihood because they don't like their cause.

Strongly disagree with some of the arguments here.
I don’t think anyone should be able to hide their identity. I understand the reasons given but once people are allowed to hide their identity it creates an environment that is much more sinister and threatening and potentially gives malicious people opportunities to commit crime without detection. I definitely don’t support face coverings.
The argument that some feel so threatened that they have to cover their face reminds me of the arguments young people give - about needing to carry knives for protection . An increase in face covering ( like an increase in knife carrying) makes us ALL more vulnerable.

To me, those reasons are invalid.

If you feel vulnerable to a right wing thug and you feel the need to cover up to hide your identity, then don't go there. Just stay safe. People feel intimidated of people wearing face coverings as they cannot see their face, they cannot be identified and it look sinister and the wearers know it. Yes women too.

By the way, there are lots of left wing thugs too who hate Jewish people, yet you don't see Jewish people wearing them at protests. Because their protests are much more peaceful protests.

@Limesodaagain the police can require people to remove face coverings. It would be nice to be able to not have to worry about such things, but while there are very real threats to the safety of campaigners, protesters and their families, I understand why people might feel it is safer for them to wear a face covering.

Your not agreeing with someone's reason doesn't mean it isn't their reason for doing it. The thread asked why people might want to wear a face covering. Those are some reasons why.

This, in a nutshell

If they're so virtuous and right and in the majority, why cover their faces

I also understand why people might feel it is safer for them to wear a face covering. But their feelings of vulnerability might lead them to protective measures that increase the tension.
Once one group wears face coverings it increases other people’s feelings of vulnerability… and so it spirals and escalates . In the end it adds to an atmosphere of suspicion and fear and will benefit no one.

I suppose another factor that influences how people perceive face coverings may be culture and/or experience of face coverings.

Having spent years working and living in settings in which face coverings can be entirely normal or understandable or professionally necessary, someone covering their face doesn't automatically generate feelings of apprehension or discomfort for me.

Yes - it is all about context