London protest

[DogsSausages]

Another anti lockdown protest in London, the police will be criticised if they arrest anyone, they cannot win. Why can't people just stay at home, haven't enough people died.

People have been arrested it’s just not being reported. There’s numerous videos on Twitter.

BBC are incorrectly reporting hundreds when there are thousands.

Any excuse to be out in crowds. Wtf is wrong with these people, as if anyone wants to be in this situation but fingers crossed by apr 12th we'll be on to the next opening up stage.

People have reached their limits physically, mentally, and financially and are voicing their valid concerns.

It would be weird if we had a year of extremely strong restrictions on civil liberties and DIDN'T have protests against it.

Besides, outdoor transmission has not even been shown to contribute to the spread of covid anyway. You may as well shout at windmills if you're outraged about this.

I know multiple people who have committed suicide because of the lockdown, I know people who have lost their jobs and their homes. I know people who have been trapped in tiny, run down accommodation for the best part of a year. The vast majority of vulnerable people have been vaccinated now and yet we're still under the most stringent restrictions. People are absolutely at breaking point. As far as I'm concerned they have every right to protest.

Besides, outdoor transmission has not even been shown to contribute to the spread of covid anyway.

Also this. The "packed beaches" last summer and BLM protests were not shown to have had noticeable impact on covid cases. People are highly unlikely to get covid from walking past someone outdoors.

Meanwhile we know that covid is very likely to spread in warehouses and factory settings. And yet the middle classes are quite happy to continue with their Amazon deliveries. It's hypocrisy writ large.

There is one in Manchester too. I say fair play to them. Too many people happy to sleepwalk into a world where our rights are being eroded. If I could join them, I would.

'I know multiple people who have committed suicide because of the lockdown, I know people who have lost their jobs and their homes'

You know multiple people who have taken their own lives, well that is tragic .

It is hopefully improving soon, you do know don't you? These 'protesters' are just bored and it's an afternoon out. Nice weather for it, don't see them out in the freezing weather.

You know multiple people who have taken their own lives, well that is tragic

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here? I really hope not

Even if lockdown ended tomorrow those who have lost homes, jobs, and their mental health won’t get them back any time soon if ever.

Well even if lockdowns ever end, your right to protest has been lost forever. Enjoy.

I want to protest.

I’m surprised there hasn’t been more protests to be honest. The government probably are too.

Outside spread is minimal so that argument doesn’t stand. So you’re arguing against the right to protest. Which is quite worrying really.

It is unsurprising. I would be worried if there wasn't some degree of civil unrest by this point.

As a previous avid rule follower I don’t blame them ! We are sleep walking into a police state . I understand we need to try and control the virus as much as we can but there are somethings that aren’t sitting right anymore .

@faerin

People have reached their limits physically, mentally, and financially and are voicing their valid concerns.

It would be weird if we had a year of extremely strong restrictions on civil liberties and DIDN'T have protests against it.

Besides, outdoor transmission has not even been shown to contribute to the spread of covid anyway. You may as well shout at windmills if you're outraged about this.

This

Good on them. “Why can’t they just stay at home” is a disgusting attitude to have. People are fighting to regain basic human freedoms such as the right to see your family and friends, the right to work and open your business. Good on them people have reached their limits or at least those who aren’t sat at home on 80% of their salary have.

I see the BBC have changed their story now, lots saying it’s the biggest protest they have ever seen.

I’ve never protested in my life but I’ve what I’ve seen recently with the erosion of rights and freedoms I will be given the opportunity.

After*

I am so glad people are finally showing that they've had enough of this.

People have reached their limits physically, mentally, and financially and are voicing their valid concerns.

This. I haven’t seen the images but I do hope they’re protesting in a safe manner, though.

Easy to say they are idiots while sitting at home prob getting a wage

These people prob have nothing left lost jobs etc good on them I say

It's entirely unsurprising that a good chunk of the population has hit their upper limit of self sacrifice. A functioning democracy requires that they be able to mark that dissent in the form of a peaceful protest.

Given Vallance said, only this month, that protests do not result in a spike in infections it seems entirely reasonable for them to get on with the messy and inconvenient nature of freedom.

And I disagree with them, fwiw, I think the lockdowns are less destructive, both in terms of health and economic outcomes, than letting the virus burn through the population and the consequences that follow.

If outdoor gatherings don’t add to transmission, why was Cheltenham Festival this time last year criticised? And the Liverpool match? Both were outside. I thought there was a strain of covid from the south west that was responsible for a lot of Irish infections. Is that not the case?

@DogsSausages

Another anti lockdown protest in London, the police will be criticised if they arrest anyone, they cannot win. Why can't people just stay at home, haven't enough people died.

Stay at home and lose our rights?

I've been out protesting today. This isn't about lockdown for me, it's about the fact that the government is currently trying to push through a law that bans us PERMANENTLY from the right to peacefully protest. Not just when we're under coronavirus restrictions, but forever.

You know what type of governments don't allow their citizens to peacefully protest? Authoritarian dictatorships.

Wake up, read something other than the Daily Fail, and realise that under the auspices of the current 'emergency' the government has pushed through a hell of a lot of legislation that permanently places restrictions on our civil liberties. While you're cowering behind your sofa and washing your shopping to protect yourself from covid, the real enemy you should have been keeping an eye out for was the government, and its attempts to use covid as a smokescreen to dismantle democracy.

I am not a covid denier. I am happy to wear my mask, get my vaccine, and do what I can to stop the spread. But I also haven't taken leave of my senses.

Personally, I think the term 'covidiot' is being used entirely in error. It should be used for those who have allowed themselves to become so frightened by something that does little harm to the vast majority of the population that they now blindly believe in everything the government says, have lost any ability to think critically about the logic of the restrictions we're living under, think the government is genuinely interested in 'protecting' us and if we all follow the made up on a back of a fag packet roolz then we'll be allowed out on insert arbitrary date here and everything will be back to normal, and are more focused on being able to go on a package holiday to Magaluf in August than protecting their civil liberties.

There were plenty of people fitting the above description of a 'covidiot' living in Germany in the 1930s, only their pandemic was an economic depression. And we all know where that ended up.

@XenoBitch

There is one in Manchester too. I say fair play to them. Too many people happy to sleepwalk into a world where our rights are being eroded. If I could join them, I would.

This!

Enough is enough! I'm so glad people are protesting.