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.

No officers were assaulted during the 3+ hour march. Although there was at least one arrest at Embankment.

The march was peaceful and while the police presence was heavy, they did not interfere with the crowd and were polite. After the march, when everyone was back at Hyde park, one of the organisers announced that a live band was coming. That’s when I left, as in my experience it’s the afterparty bits which tend to end up in police/protest scuffles.

According to the group chat, once the crowd had thinned to about 80 people, the police moved in, and that’s when things became violent. I’ve seen footage of other protesters trying to move in between the bottle-throwers and the police, and so it was not a protester - police standoff. More like a minority of protesters causing the issues. Anyone who has attended protests in the past will be familiar with this phenomenon.

@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!

Oh an ICU doctor speaks out so we should all stand in thrall! Sorry, not buying it any more. These people should stick to treating patients and stay away from politics. The way the NHS has handled this pandemic has been a joke. The scaremongering videos they have allowed to be shared from NHS wards have scared the living day lights out of millions. I know people who have had to jabs who still barely leave the fucking house. Their lives have been ruined by this. As I said on another thread, I know a lady who died of cancer who still wouldn't allow close family members to hug her the day before she died. I know an elderly man who lost his wife in 2019 who now has severe agoraphobia and is convinced if he leaves his house he will catch this virus. So well done NHS for working with the BBC to scare people day after day after day - stories like this, doubtless repeated across the country, are the net result of your efforts. Give yourselves a pat on the back. FWIW The NHS nurse I spoke to said they supported the march.

The march was peaceful and while the police presence was heavy, they did not interfere with the crowd and were polite. After the march, when everyone was back at Hyde park, one of the organisers announced that a live band was coming. That’s when I left, as in my experience it’s the afterparty bits which tend to end up in police/protest scuffles.

So they had time to sort out entertainment but not deal with the antisemitism. Right. That’s entirely fine.

How do you feel about marching alongside racists who were using that racism to promote your cause, @Terracotta9?

Completely ridiculous. If this virus killed young people and ignored the elderly they would welcome lockdown. This type of gathering risks a mutation that does just that. The Indian mutation might just be the start of that process. Dickheads.

@KatChocolate

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

Maybe because the editor decided that other stories were of more importance. I don't watch ITV news so I don't know what they did cover, but off the top of my head I'd guess bigger stories would be the situation in India, the accusations of government corruption, or vaccinations reaching 50% of over 18s. Even the proposed football super league would have been of more interest to the audience.

This was a relatively small protest by a group of people who have made other similar protests. Nothing new, nothing significant.

@notagainmummy

Completely ridiculous. If this virus killed young people and ignored the elderly they would welcome lockdown. This type of gathering risks a mutation that does just that. The Indian mutation might just be the start of that process. Dickheads.

I’m not aware of any protests over the last year that have actually led to outbreaks and given how low cases are at the moment the odds of being absolutely fine are in their favour.

I do think it’s interesting to note that these particular protests have rarely (ever?) happened when our case numbers have been high.

I am not sure they would welcome lockdown in those circumstances notagsinmummy they would still use the situation to fuel their antisemitic conspiracy theories.

@Schonerlebnis

Some women were interviewed and suggested that mask wearing was akin to ‘genocide’ - maybe a bit melodramatic. Some were wearing yellow stars to indicate they’d been discriminated against

I would honestly support those people (wearing stars) being made to go for re-education sessions so that they could understand how appalling this is. How can people be so out of touch? No wonder the UK continues to have a problem with anti-Semitism if people don't understand the past.

How do you feel about marching alongside racists who were using that racism to promote your cause, @Terracotta9?

I went to the march because I’m concerned about how the pandemic has been used to erode civil liberties.

The march was the result of many different groups coming together ranging from the far left to the far right, but I don’t follow any of those groups in particular.

I’ve no doubt that my political views do not align with the views of many people in yesterday’s crowd, but just happen to overlap on this one issue regarding pandemic civil liberties. I can accept that discrepancy in views for the purpose of a 3 hour march, in order to make a visible stand towards the government.

I didn’t see any racist behaviour at the march but don’t doubt that it happened. What racism are you referring to in particular, @JassyRadlett

@Terracotta9 were you wearing a yellow star?
Do you support the people who were?

I think they were absolutely disgusting.

And police were injured.

@Terracotta9

I went to the march because I’m concerned about how the pandemic has been used to erode civil liberties

Racism also erodes civil liberties. To a far greater extent, and for far, far longer than current covid laws.

I didn’t see any racist behaviour at the march but don’t doubt that it happened. What racism are you referring to in particular

See pic. How do you feel about marching with anti-Semites?

I didn’t see anyone wearing a yellow star in the crowd.

There is a Jewish lady in the Sky video who made a comparison between the situation here and the “nazi state”

It’s not a comparison I would make, but if there are Jewish people who make that comparison, I’m not going to tell them they can’t do so.

@Terracotta9 lots of people were wearing yellow stars. Many, many Jewish people have been quite rightly upset and angered by it. One woman saying otherwise does not alter that.

And in no way do current rules resemble 'the Nazi state'. Nobody is being persecuted or murdered in their millions. What a vile thing to suggest.

I’ve no doubt that my political views do not align with the views of many people in yesterday’s crowd, but just happen to overlap on this one issue regarding pandemic civil liberties. I can accept that discrepancy in views for the purpose of a 3 hour march, in order to make a visible stand towards the government

@Terracotta9 genuine question, where are your boundaries with that? Which groups would you ethically feel unable to stand alongside despite one factor you agree on aligning?

For instance, if NAMBLA (to pick an extreme example) openly marched under their banner yesterday would you continue to join the protest if they were there unchallenged?

I’m not sure that you’re able to distance yourself from others agendas if you choose to ally yourself alongside them in this kind of scenario.

I appreciate that your views aren’t shared but I’m not sure how much credibility that actually lends you. Not seeing it personally doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen and the reason you individually had for protesting is lost in the noise of other groups.

ONS currently estimates around 1 in 600 people are Covid positive

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/23april2021

So if we take the media estimate of around 10,000 at yesterday’s March, less than 20 of them have Covid.

The chance of catching Covid from any of those people outdoors is very, very low.

If you were unlucky enough to catch Covid yesterday then statistically you’ve already been vaccinated so highly unlikely to become seriously ill. And even if you haven’t been vaccinated you’d still be very unlucky to end up suffering badly.

[quote poshme]@Terracotta9 were you wearing a yellow star?
Do you support the people who were?

I think they were absolutely disgusting.

And police were injured. [/quote]
I saw some feckers with yellow stars near the rally and wasn’t quite sure what it was. Found out on here later what it was. Lucky for them I didn’t realise at the time. Absolute arseholes.

I didn’t see any yellow stars, but the crowd was very big. There may well have been 100s of people wearing them, but I didn’t see any myself.

It’s not something I would do, and I don’t think it’s useful to draw comparisons between the erosion of civil liberties here, and Nazi germany, because then it just becomes a discussion about whether it’s right to draw the comparison or not.

So. I would never wear a yellow star. I don’t support or condone other people wearing yellow stars as a protest visual in general, but if Jewish people decide to do this then I think they have every right to do so.

I’m glad I attended the protest, even though I don’t agree 100% with all the people there, or support all the causes who were represented in the crowd. I remain concerned with civil liberties, and the ways in which they are being eroded under the guise of public health measures, and was very glad and energised to see yesterday that many people across all demographics share my concerns.

Where did you come from? Local or further afield?

@Terracotta9 if you're so concerned about civil liberties, why were you marching with anti-Semites? Saying you didn't see them is no defence.

And Jewish people do not support or condone people wearing yellow stars. What a ludicrous and offensive suggestion.

I went to the anti Iraq war protest but moved up north after that and haven't bene down to London since. There were all sorts there from all political spectrums and all extremes. That happens on big marches. Some are just there for the day out. Some try hijack the protest for their own political ends. Nowt new in that.
If you start getting concerned about who you might be marching alongside you would never march at all.
The media will also pick out the extreme elements as they are the most interesting.

Why do we need a march now when lockdown restrictions are being lifted?

What do you think the Government should have done instead during the pandemic @Terracotta9

There were anti vaxers there too. I saw some ‘anti Vaxers lives matters’ T-shirt’s. I did wonder if they’d ever had a tetanus shot or polio vaccination?

Here they are in all their misinformed glory - anyone who wants to be associated with these folks needs their heads testing.

www.bitchute.com/video/sMGdFFQMT1eJ/

I'm glad it wasn't covered on the news. I don't want to see these idiots parading their stupidity. I'm sure those bereaved by Covid could do without seeing this too.