Anti lockdown protests yesterday.

[Tumbleweed101]

There is a lot being said on social media but not much in mainstream news which is interesting given how many people seem to have gone to the one in London at least. I understand there were some elsewhere in the country too.

Just curious if anyone took part
and what people think about the protests.

The UK has a proud history of peaceful protest. It seems many Mumsnetters are troubled by that (although I suspect they might change their stance if the protest was about something they supported -tax cuts for the middle classes perhaps?)
Look at Myanmar right now and those protesting against the military coup are being shot and ‘disappeared’.
So I personally think it’s great that such large protests can go on largely untroubled in the centre of our capital city.
People mentioning the current situation in India need to Get. A. Grip. Are you seriously so incapable of looking beyond sensationalist reporting? India has a woeful healthcare system, which is why literally millions die unnecessarily each year, including a great many children (hundreds of thousands from Diarrhoea alone). And yet because it is Covid suddenly the BBC cannot leave the story alone.

@lubeybooby

Really stupid thing to protest about imho

You only need to look at India for what happens when the virus is allowed to rip through an area unrestricted. Their situation is what our lockdowns, and later lockdowns plus speedy vaccinations has prevented.

AND we're nearing the end of restrictions anyway, plenty is open now and really getting there.

India’s situation is because they have a very poor healthcare infrastructure. For the love of god why are people not getting this???

[quote Terracotta9]@MRex

It was more than 10,000 people. At one point the crowd extended from Holborn to Westminster via embankment, a good couple of kilometres.

The protest in March had 100k and this one was much bigger.[/quote]
I think you must be thinking if a different demo. This one was around Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square.

There were larger ones before the latest roadmap step, and I think one of those was along the route you're talking about.

The biggest size crowd in all the various MSM reports from yesterday is about 10,000, whereas others just say 'thousands'

India’s situation is because they have a very poor healthcare infrastructure. For the love of god why are people not getting this???

Because we understand exponentials?

The UK has a proud history of peaceful protest. It seems many Mumsnetters are troubled by that.

Can you point to a single post that is disagreeing with their right to march or protest?

As opposed to disagreeing with what they’re marching about, disagreeing with the disgusting racism demonstrated by some and denounced by none or its leaders, and stating that they don’t think the march warranted more media coverage than it received?

It’s almost like you’re trying to create a controversy where one doesn’t exist. Why not stick to the truth?

I don't see how you link being troubled at right to protest, with using the evidence base to disagree with OP about amount of press coverage.

Unless you're wildly extrapolating, of course

India’s situation is because they have a very poor healthcare infrastructure.

Ludicrously simplistic take on it. If it were just about healthcare systems India would have been overwhelmed long before now.

This wave in India has a huge political dimension as well as issues around new variants. And is setting records for new cases. In a country with significant historical, cultural and family ties to the U.K., you wonder why it’s getting media coverage - and really no more than eg Manaus last year?

I think they should all be sprayed purple so that if they now catch COVID the NHS can sneer at them for being an idiot. Why should our nurses and doctors risk their lives treating morons. Why should I have to teach the children of people who have so little regard for others lives and could now be infecting their own kids as well as other peoples, and my unvaccinated colleagues.
Don't want a vaccine then don't have it, don't want to wear a mask then don't go places one is required. V simple.

India’s situation is because they have a very poor healthcare infrastructure. For the love of god why are people not getting this

I don’t disagree but it is absolutely an example of what happens when a healthcare system is overwhelmed. It doesn’t really matter if it’s excellent or poor (and India has examples of both) because there is always a maximum capacity.

To be clear I don’t think India’s situation is going to be mirrored here for many reasons, but India and Brazil do absolutely demonstrate what the fall out of no or inadequate action can result in.

Re: media coverage of these protests, its a really annoying tactic to try and spin this movement as an oppressed resistance when it’s clearly not the case. I’m getting the impression that there’s a large need to be seen as freedom fighters when that’s not really the case is it? It’s coming across as dim and immature tbh. There’s an irony in a load of people trying to tell me I’m being lied to (and of course a sheep) whilst threads like this are trying to lead me to believe things that aren’t true. I would suggest making sure you’re facts are 100% if this is a cause you want to promote.

@SquirmOfEels I think you must be thinking if a different demo. This one was around Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square.

Fair point. Yesterday’s was the first one I attended, and haven’t followed the previous ones in detail. The 100k one could well have been one of the others, not March.

The biggest size crowd in all the various MSM reports from yesterday is about 10,000, whereas others just say 'thousands'

It was much larger than 10k, so for whatever reason the MSM is not reporting this correctly.

I have some drone footage from the group chat and other videos which give some indication of the crowd but I can’t post them here. They should be easy to find on Twitter though, for those who are interested.

I think part of the protest was about having a right to protest regardless off the reason behind it. I fully agree people should be able to protest about anything they want to, whether I agree with their argument is irrelevant.

Fair point. Yesterday’s was the first one I attended, and haven’t followed the previous ones in detail. The 100k one could well have been one of the others, not March.

What do you think about the racism on the march? Why wasn’t it called out and those people ejected by the organisers?

I must hold my hand up - I thought I was replying to another thread on the same topic so my last paragraph isn’t entirely in keeping with this thread

I also agree it’s bloody daft, ok protest if you want but ffs masks should end by June if we are led to believe the roadmap . So what 2 months I think we can cope . I really can’t wait for the whole masks to end I’m happy to wear it but for the whole mask police suspicious of anyone not wearing one is ridiculous I’ll be glad when it’s over .

There is not a lot about the protests in MSM, wonder why.

The media like to put across the anti lockdowners are conspiracy theorists and Covid deniers. If they took their time to speak to one of them and see it wasnt the case, then it could affect their campaign of fear.

I feel for the ICU doctor who posted on Twitter stating that this was a ‘gut punch’ to NHS staff! That we had been coming out of lockdown slowly to avoid a third wave!

She also goes on that ‘this is a slap in the face for us all and for those who have lost loved ones, colleagues, and family members!

I wholeheartedly agree with her!

And don’t get me started on those protestors wearing the yellow star. Disgraceful and so offensive!

There is not a lot about the protests in MSM, wonder why.

There is a surprisingly high level of coverage considering that it’s yet another march by the same group on the same issue.

What level of media coverage do you think was warranted? Graphics and special theme music? A wraparound splash in the Telegraph?

@MrsHastingslikethebattle

There is not a lot about the protests in MSM, wonder why.

The media like to put across the anti lockdowners are conspiracy theorists and Covid deniers. If they took their time to speak to one of them and see it wasnt the case, then it could affect their campaign of fear.

Broadcasts on Beeb, ITV, Sky. Also on Reuters

Also articles in The Guardian, the Independent, The Sun, The Evening Standard,The Telegraph, The Express, LBC and many more. Plus on websites of MSM of other countries

Why do you think this is 'not a lot' ?

What do you think about the racism on the march? Why wasn’t it called out and those people ejected by the organisers?

I didn’t see any racism during the 3 hours and 20 minutes the march lasted for, so while I can’t comment on any particular racist behaviour, I don’t doubt that it may have occurred -

I’ve never seen any protest with such a broad demographic. I saw some people in the crowd who looked like people I probably wouldn’t have much in common with, some laddish/hooligan types, but not many. I also saw Lawrence Fox, and he seems to be an all-around dickhead.

As for the organisers, I don’t know. This seemed to be a protest based on many smaller groups coming together. I don’t follow any of those groups, just joined the chat which gave the location details. Then turned up at 1pm. I think many people did the same.

But I can’t speak for anyone else at the march, just for myself. I’m concerned about how the pandemic has been used to erode civil liberties and that’s why I marched.

At least a cursory mention on the BBC News website would be nice.

Instead it hasn't been mentioned at all.

I was surprised it had no air time on ITV news last night. It was all over Twitter.

I just wonder why some masked women holding candles was deemed enough of a threat to public health for the police to go in mob handed and forcibly break it up, but thousands of unmasked people gathering wasn't.

@KatChocolate

I feel for the ICU doctor who posted on Twitter stating that this was a ‘gut punch’ to NHS staff! That we had been coming out of lockdown slowly to avoid a third wave!

She also goes on that ‘this is a slap in the face for us all and for those who have lost loved ones, colleagues, and family members!

I wholeheartedly agree with her!

And don’t get me started on those protestors wearing the yellow star. Disgraceful and so offensive!

Totally agree with this. The sacrifices everyone has made, the terrible terrible things NHS staff have dealt with. Police taken to hospital after being assaulted. People heckled to take of their masks I heard a woman on the radio saying it’s like being in a nazi state, Yellow stars....

No I don’t support any of the protest.
They should be ashamed

@MrsHastingslikethebattle

There is not a lot about the protests in MSM, wonder why.

The media like to put across the anti lockdowners are conspiracy theorists and Covid deniers. If they took their time to speak to one of them and see it wasnt the case, then it could affect their campaign of fear.

Yes, the Beeb should have interviewed a couple of the yellow star wearers. I am sure they would not turn out to be racist conspiracy theorists.

There were several assaults on police during the March. I have no doubt that some arrests will follow. But yes, there is a discrepancy here that should be explained.