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.

“It's only a problem when pro-Palestine protestors wear masks, it's so hypocritical.”

I don’t like it when anyone wears a mask. I usually find it sinister and threatening. I understand that there might be justifiable reasons ( eg threat of doxing?) but I very much wish that mask wearing wasn’t allowed and it was illegal to publish details of addresses etc online .
Obviously - that’s just a wish and people have to protect themselves in the moment.
As @PeasfullPerson has said - it is more threatening outside the immediate context of the March so perhaps organisers could ask mask wearers only to wear masks if absolutely necessary for their own safety and to remove them outside the context of the protest.

I usually find it sinister and threatening.

And I find passive aggressive and stalkerish behaviour quite sinister and threatening. Each to their own I guess

🙄

As a student in the mid 2000s my friends and I were posted on ‘Red Watch’ for attending some protest or other (I can’t even remember which one!). No doubt there is a modern day equivalent where people get harassed and doxxed and have members of the far right call women fat and ugly. Maybe that’s why they cover their faces?

I thought it was funny as a student. I was 19 and immortal, obvs! In my late 30s I would be horrified.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwatch

@Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot I remember Redwatch! Don't think I ever got featured though... We all thought we could change the world back then...

Yes, we all bring different experiences.

Mine is that when people cover their faces in large groups in public spaces whether as part a protest or not, then those people are usually intent on causing trouble, violence and confrontations with the security forces which then creates a negative feedback loop.

I'm thinking of Republican and Loyalist youths over many years wearing masks for this reason. And I see that in the modern day too.

So, you won't be surprised to know I also don't attend public demonstrations of any kind, especially large ones. Knowing how often they turn violent and how easy it is for subversives within the group to turn everything on its head very quickly, I make a decision based on security considerations.

I stay away. 🤷‍♂️

It's that simple. So it never surprises me when large demonstrations turn violent and some trot out the "it was largely peaceful!" line. I mean, there were signs of what was to come if you watch the whole footage before, during and after.

Yeah, I avoid them wherever I happen to be. At home or on holiday. Security always comes first.

I'd avoid any protest where people cover their faces gor the protest. People intent on criminal activities can move freely within (and do). Trouble frequently follows and it's difficult to identify individuals (hence masks).

Yes I agree.

Those face coverings embolden people too.

Recently, I have seen more young people cover their faces while out and about, and it’s led me to consider why they feel so anxious and distrustful of society that they need to do this?

Could it be due to the way our current government scape goats young people, combined with the rise and awareness regarding facial recognition technology??

Maybe it's being they are up to no good. The chanting of intifada revolution is not a great look.

Yes, it's one of the things that's led to the Criminal Justice Bill not too long ago for England and Wales.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-protest-laws-on-face-coverings-and-pyrotechnics

There's clearly enough of a problem to evolve the law.

‘Maybe’

OK

Probably.

The world has much bigger problems than people covering their faces.

Better to focus on those responsible for causing actual violence and death, and those for who there is evidence they continue to do so.