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.

No one is supporting violence, obviously it's not on. The protest in london was peaceful and focused on the lockdown, it was different to what's happened in Bristol. You can't tar all protests with the same brush.

However, if you lock people down, take away their freedoms and make empty promises what do you think's going to happen? People retaliate, fight back, make noise. We are done. The protests will get bigger and messier the more this carries on.

No one is supporting violence, obviously it's not on. The protest in london was peaceful and focused on the lockdown,
So throwing bottles etc is peaceful now @millenialblush

Northernsoulgirl45

Those comments were made by those groups in regard to the London peaceful protest.

I’m on the groups and not one message I read last night supported what the violence in Bristol, all messages condemned it.

These violent, disruptive aresholes are demonstrating perfectly why tougher laws are needed

That's already illegal, no need for a new law.

@Northernsoulgirl45

No one is supporting violence, obviously it's not on. The protest in london was peaceful and focused on the lockdown, So throwing bottles etc is peaceful now *@millenialblush*

The protest was actually a worldwide movement, and took place in cities all over the world. It's intention was peaceful, and indeed, protesters were advised not to be confrontational at all. Of course, there were a few outliers, and of course, it was the violent outliers who make the news! Do not be fooled.

In some cities, the police took off their helmets and laid down their shields (Turina). In some, (Amsterdam)the police were so aggressive, with snarling dogs and water cannons, that there were lines of army veterans and health workers in front of the protestors, guarding them. The police eventually retreated. The Amsterdamers were entirely peaceful. The police were behaving as if they were terrorists. But of course THIS doesn't make the mainstream news. The best place for up to date info on the protests, I've found, it Telegram.

Also, for those who are against lockdowns, it's worth signing the Great Barrington Declaration, along with almost 800000concerned citizens and almost 56000 medical and public health scientists and medical practitioners. gbdeclaration.org/view-signatures/

They offer a practical and public friendly alternative to lockdowns called Focused Protection. I have signed.

*That’s my worry too
That it starts with our right to protest taken away.
Does this then filter down to our right to object.
How about our right to appeal?.
What about our right to speak up.?

Where does it end?*

Yes, I think the proposed Bill is proposing a bit of that.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56400751

There were over 100k people at the london protest, a couple of idiots throwing bottles doesnt make the whole thing a violent protest/riot.

The report I shared related to London. Yes it was small minority but it was there.

Trouble makers turn up everywhere. Football matches, pubs, clubs, the vast majority of people are not violent and do not support violence.

The protest was actually a worldwide movement, and took place in cities all over the world
This is even worse then. A globally orchestrated protest. Who are the groups behind this? What's their agenda? Why should our policemen suffer injuries because of these out of control hordes?

Do not be fooled
No one is fooled by the nonsense some posters continue to spout on these threads AKA 'the protesters are a wholesome and placid lot who wouldn't hurt a fly' It doesn't wash, so please stop justifying and parroting this nonsensical narrative. Nobody is buying it

The "groups" behind this are not groups. They are just people (citizens) who decided enough was enough. They picked a day. That was all.
Don't be a conspiracy theorist!

Unfortunately the police wet their pants whenever confronted with unruly people. They can't move in quick enough at low hanging fruit.

The cynic in me has been of the opinion that any violence at protests in recent years has been encouraged - if not instigated - by the government.

If you, as 'the government', wanted to outlaw any form of dissent wouldn't you make one of the traditional cornerstones of public expression as disordered and unpredictable as possible?

The cynic in me has been of the opinion that any violence at protests in recent years has been encouraged - if not instigated - by the government

Try again, the gaslighting is not working

The morons who injured police officers last night are all on camera and can expect custodial sentences according to a police chief on this morning on Radio 4.

Good. Thugs should be punished but democracy and the ability to voice dissent needs to be protected.

I have just joined Liberty. An organisation I have hitherto not has the slightest bit of interest in.

I am horrified at the gradual shift removing the right to protest.

This is how wars have started

I was saying it before when I saw the bill, if you take away the right to peaceful protest you will just end up with more violent protests. It won't stop those with nothing to lose.
I agree with them and would be out there if I didn't have dependents, our civil liberties are at stake here. Although I do disagree with the violence, this is what happens when you start taking away people's freedoms.

'was saying it before when I saw the bill, if you take away the right to peaceful protest you will just end up with more violent protests. It won't stop those with nothing to lose. I agree with them and would be out there if I didn't have dependents, our civil liberties are at stake here'

No one is taking away the right to peacefully protest. The bill just sets out conditions including time limits etc.

If you only want to peacefully protest you've nothing to worry about. Sadly as we've seen all too often recently what starts out with people singing kumbya in a park very soon escalates to rioting because actually that is what many people attend for as there's not much else going on entertainment wise at the moment.

The bill sets out the the police can shut down any protest that may cause unease alarm or distress to a passer-by.

Now, come on, 'unease, alarm or distress?' to someone who happens to be passing by? that is some airy fairy shit. Take a look at the aibu board for a kaleidoscopic display of the low threshold this would entail - God help anyone who knocks on a door.

Me: Enough is enough, I'm having a glass of wine.

(some) Protesters: Enough is enough, I'm burning down a police car. And that's supposed to be acceptable?

Who says that it is acceptable?

If you have read this thread, some people are saying Good, some people are saying 'it's because people have had enough'. They are justifying violent action. Just read it.

Some people have said it was inevitable but they don't say acceptable.

20 police officers injured last night. One with a collapsed lung after being stamped on. Another with broken bones. If this 'protest' had ended at 5pm who knows if it would have escalated. The pissed up mobs only seem to come out later so I absolutely support time limits on protests.

Perhaps once the pandemic is over they could actually hire premises to host a protesting event? It just doesn't seem to appeal to some unless wide spread disruption, vandalism and violence is included.