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 Orange jumpsuits - this lot are the ones from the US who actually believe the pedophile ring in the basement of the Washington pizza parlour with the Clinton’s trafficking kids? They also believe the Oreo cookies have ‘meanings’ in the patterns, etc... they are rent a loon.

Why have the bonkers American conspiracy theory crazies gained traction over here? We used to just laugh at them.

Dear me, those two women in the DM video have a long list of dubious claims. They are really not bright.

I saw this reported on the TV news, so I don't know why people keep claiming that it hasn't been covered. However, it isn't the biggest story right now, so I would absolutely expect more airtime to be given to the more important issues.

As for what I think of the protests, I can only base my judgment on the mindnumbingly stupid people who they interviewed on the news, and the inane/offensive banner slogans that were shown. Whether those were representative of the whole ten thousand protesters or not, I really don't know.

Ten thousand people - where did they come from? Swarming into Center London, yeah great. Gather in your own bloody front doorstep (central Londoner here). I don’t want your bloody germs.

@Cornettoninja

To be honest NAMBLA may well have been there with a great big banner and I might not have seen them. I don’t think people posting here have any idea of the scale of yesterday’s march.

It’s a fair question though, and at some point I would have to draw a line. But at the same time I think purity politics has all but destroyed the left and progressive causes from the inside over the last couple of decades. And at some point you have to draw the line in the opposite direction.

At what point does an issue become so important that you put aside political differences with others in order to make a stand?

Clearly, civil liberties during the pandemic has become that issue for me, and I understand that most here will disagree with that. In fact, most people posting here don’t think there even is an issue with civil liberties and the pandemic, which is fine.

Wonder if OP will be coming back to admit their mistake?

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.

Ok. So these concerns such that it’s ok to march alongside racists. When it’s known that these racists have been at these protests in the past with their disgusting yellow stars, when the organisers have not condemned it or called it out, and when you are failing to condemn it here. Not just as something ‘you wouldn’t do’ or not useful to the debate. As actual, despicable, harmful racism.

Because that’s what they are, you know. Racists. And you’re marching with them as they are deploying their racism in the name of your cause. You seem quite alarmingly ok with that.

Maybe those at the march did call out the anti semites? Did they?

I’ve made it quite clear:

I would never wear a yellow star to make a point about civil liberties

I don’t condone or support other people wearing a yellow star as a protest visual in general, but if Jewish people wish to do so, they have every right to do this.

They are comparing lockdown/vaccination with 6 million dead Jews? Deliberate and active genocide? Mass murder on a massive scale? Not to mention the other groups deemed not fit to grace the earth.

Anyone wearing a star to compare these two things has one brain cell.

I am kicking myself for bit clocking what it was when I saw the family wearing them yesterday. Absolute bastards poisoning their children’s minds.

Ah yes. The Don't Shit In Your Own Back Yard mass gatherers who hassled and intimidated innocent Londoners going shopping. Lovely lot. One of their supporters on another thread admitted they wouldn't want to hassle the locals of a sleepy market town or village. Londoners of course, as has been the case for years, don't matter.

It's about bloody time these people took their protests somewhere else.

Yesterday some were wishing they'd gone to London. Seems they're not so keen to upset their neighbours since nothing stopped them arranging a protest where they live. Perhaps they're not so passionate about their 'cause' afterall.

@Terracotta9

I’ve made it quite clear:

I would never wear a yellow star to make a point about civil liberties

I don’t condone or support other people wearing a yellow star as a protest visual in general, but if Jewish people wish to do so, they have every right to do this.

I don't understand why you keep saying Jewish people can wear a yellow star if they wish? I don't think the people wearing them on the demo were Jewish? Or am I misunderstanding something?

@toffeebutterpopcorn

They are comparing lockdown/vaccination with 6 million dead Jews? Deliberate and active genocide? Mass murder on a massive scale? Not to mention the other groups deemed not fit to grace the earth.

Anyone wearing a star to compare these two things has one brain cell.

I am kicking myself for bit clocking what it was when I saw the family wearing them yesterday. Absolute bastards poisoning their children’s minds.

Oh yes that too. Says a lot about the people involved doesn't it. No surprise of course. The far right are the main instigators of this lot. Those organising it know exactly what they're doing. Think about the fact that they did this 'protest' in London - a very diverse city with a large Jewish population. It's also no accident them choosing to 'protest' in the city with a significant population of non white communities (some of the groups hardest hit by Covid). More than 10,000 Londoners are dead from Covid. Heckling Londoners going shopping given the number who've died is rather unpleasant to say the least.

I saw this family pretty close to the synagogue too.

Shame there’s no vaccine against ‘stupid’.

These folk appear to be the main organizers no names to their website. @savethegrannies would you like to flesh out the anonymity of these folk and why we should follow/listen to them.

www.standupx.info/

Who We Are

A community of people protesting and standing up for our rights across the UK since May 2020

We welcome all people questioning the mainstream narrative to come meet us, join in discussions, and participate in peaceful rallies.

Unfortunately I don't think it's stupidity with all of them. Some, yes, but others including those organising it know exactly what they're doing.

Thanks for answering @Terracotta9. It’s a murky question to ponder, especially at a time that so many agendas are being hijacked by others.

Pre-pandemic civil liberties were just as precarious and whilst I can’t argue that circumstances haven’t been misused I don’t class the measures used to contain covid amongst them. For me personally the issues are separate and I’m loathe to mix them given the controversy raised by them iyswim. I’m not discounting future events may change my mind - who knows what will happen - but I disagree with many of the points raised by campaigns like ‘free your face’ and the anti-vax movements raise. Ultimately I don’t trust their motivations nor the people (who are pretty hard to pin down past their ‘celebrity’ faces) coordinating them.

I don’t doubt the sincerity of the majority of the people involved but I do question how their support is being used and for who.

I think you are right Tea.

Looks like only Russia Today has bothered to write about these guys - hmmm

www.rt.com/uk/498075-standupx-anti-mask-covid/

I don’t condone or support other people wearing a yellow star as a protest visual in general

But you’re fine going on marches where this has repeatedly happened, and where the organisers tacitly endorse it with their silence and lack of condemnation.

@Pinkearedcow
I don't understand why you keep saying Jewish people can wear a yellow star if they wish? I don't think the people wearing them on the demo were Jewish? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Surely that’s the point?

I don’t know if those photographed wearing yellow stars are Jewish or not.

If they aren’t Jewish, then I think it was a stupid action and they deserve to be called out as anti-semites and racists.

If they are Jewish, then it’s not my place to tell them they can’t make the comparison.

It's pretty disgusting. Whatever someone's views on lockdown or masks or vaccines, there's no justification or excuse in using the imagery and comparisons they're doing.

Separately, they shouldn't be harassing or intimidating innocent people who are just trying to go shopping. They talk about rights. Well it goes both ways. People have a right to wear a mask without being verbally abused for it.

Do you really think it is likely Jewish people would parade around wearing yellow stars with "covid" written on them Terracotta9?

I hadn't seen much on the main stream news sites I regularly go to when I posted this. Have now had a look at links etc posted and done a bit more googling.

It has been interesting reading through all the comments on this and the other thread on the various view points.

Personally I'm a bit middle ground. I've done what we've been asked to do and have no problem doing so until all adults have been offered a vaccine. I can understand the caution people have about vaccines and the discovery of the clots proves it isn't wrong to have that caution if your risk of being very poorly from covid is low. I disagree with covid passports for domestic use as I don't believe it is in the general publics interest to have more restrictions added and dont entirely trust that they won't end up used for other things or for more than a short time. Once everyone has been offered the vaccine I think we should scrap face

[quote Terracotta9]@Pinkearedcow
I don't understand why you keep saying Jewish people can wear a yellow star if they wish? I don't think the people wearing them on the demo were Jewish? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Surely that’s the point?

I don’t know if those photographed wearing yellow stars are Jewish or not.

If they aren’t Jewish, then I think it was a stupid action and they deserve to be called out as anti-semites and racists.

If they are Jewish, then it’s not my place to tell them they can’t make the comparison.[/quote]
Sorry, I think that’s a cop out. Given there is no way to tell from simply looking at someone whether they’re Jewish or not then the use of a yellow star in that way is unacceptable. It just is.

The visual may have a credible back story that somehow makes it ok or at least a strong political statement but without that it’s simply an offensive image that’s massively missed the mark in what the wearer is attempting to communicate. How far do we push the boundaries of whats acceptable based on if’s and maybe’s?