[Liam-]

[Tom4784]

That Winston Churchill statue is not a monument to WW2, it's a monument to Winston Churchill. It doesn't honour victims of the war, it doesn't honour D-Day, it honours Winston Churchill and Churchill was a white supremacist.

Honestly, if you're so twisted over a bit of piss on a statue and you are using that to shut down a protest against racial equality then take a good long look at yourself because you're standing on the wrong side of history.

[Liam-]

Bunkerbitch isn’t having a very good week is he?

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Bunkerbitch isn’t having a very good week is he?

We love to see it.

[Rustic bauble]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Good job this wasn’t a violent demonstration then!

It did get violent...don’t you listen or watch the news.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

That Winston Churchill statue is not a monument to WW2, it's a monument to Winston Churchill. It doesn't honour victims of the war, it doesn't honour D-Day, it honours Winston Churchill and Churchill was a white supremacist.

Honestly, if you're so twisted over a bit of piss on a statue and you are using that to shut down a protest against racial equality then take a good long look at yourself because you're standing on the wrong side of history.

No you are not

[Cherry Christmas]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Manchester’s protests didn’t descend into chaos, neither did the Cardiff one and neither of them had a harsh and volatile police presence ready to kick up a fuss

so you are saying the Met police incited trouble? even though there was a peaceful protest last weekend, and at Hyde Park mid week?

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Manchester’s protests didn’t descend into chaos, neither did the Cardiff one and neither of them had a harsh and volatile police presence ready to kick up a fuss

The news said everything was calm until the bottles started reigning down on the mounted police ..



Sky News correspondent Mark White was at the scene on Whitehall - near Downing Street and The Cenotaph.

He said the atmosphere had started to shift in the area, where around 400 to 500 people had gathered, and then "just after the thunderstorm... the crowd started throwing bottles and other objects at the police".

Mounted officers charged down the street at around 6pm to push the protesters back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Candy Annie Cane]

Its awful that it has turned to violence in a small minority of protesters....but frustration at not being heard will lead people to that.

Think back to LGBT rights....and a little further to women's rights. Were it not for activists we would not be where we are.....back before WW1 women resorted to violent demonstrations for their rights...bombings, vandalism, rioting.....do I condemn them for that? Nope because because they did that, I have the right to vote, the right to not be treated as a second class citizen, the right to be heard. Maybe...one day....black people will be afforded that same right unequivocally

[Ramsay]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Its awful that it has turned to violence in a small minority of protesters....but frustration at not being heard will lead people to that.

Think back to LGBT rights....and a little further to women's rights. Were it not for activists we would not be where we are.....back before WW1 women resorted to violent demonstrations for their rights...bombings, vandalism, rioting.....do I condemn them for that? Nope because because they did that, I have the right to vote, the right to not be treated as a second class citizen, the right to be heard. Maybe...one day....black people will be afforded that same right unequivocally

It needed to happen

[ChristmasNeeve]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Its awful that it has turned to violence in a small minority of protesters....but frustration at not being heard will lead people to that.

Think back to LGBT rights....and a little further to women's rights. Were it not for activists we would not be where we are.....back before WW1 women resorted to violent demonstrations for their rights...bombings, vandalism, rioting.....do I condemn them for that? Nope because because they did that, I have the right to vote, the right to not be treated as a second class citizen, the right to be heard. Maybe...one day....black people will be afforded that same right unequivocally

Absolutely spot on Annie

[James]

Protests rarely change anything to policies in democracies. What does makes a difference is public opinion.

Ultimately it is about votes in elections; even when an election is a long way off, politicians (as much as we don't want to believe it) are conditioned to respond to shifts in public opinion.

For example the pro-EU rallies didn't reverse Brexit because they didn't demonstrate a change in public opinion - it was just the people who supported Remain before and were passionate about it out on the streets.

Violence and destructive protest can have a negative effect and it is usually unjust. You have to say it is often carried out by a minority, say, 10% out of a crowd of thousands.

[thesheriff443]

It’s funny how people are willing to turn a blind eye to vandalism and assaults because they happen while people protesting.
The law has to apply to everyone regardless of how deserving you think the cause is.
It’s the police who keep you safe without them you would be at the mercy of criminals.

They are far from perfect but without them the streets would run red with blood

It’s the police that face violence every day of the week they have wife’s and kids at home who love them.

A black man kills a white man and his defence is white people are racist, do we turn round and say, ok that’s fine your free to go because that’s how lots of people on here have that mentality that a crime is justified because other crimes are happening.

[Marsh.]

I love how the police as a "force" are automatically male too with their "wives and kids at home". The female officers obviously do all the paperwork.

[Brother Leon]

If you are getting fed up of hearing about racism then imagine how fed up you would be experiencing it.

If you are starting to feel uncomfortable with the current conversations and statements being made then that’s because we are talking about YOU and people of your like.

It’s no longer good enough to just pat yourself on the back and say “Oh, but I’m not racist anyway”. If you are not adamantly anti racist and speaking out then you should be ashamed. If you are trying to belittle a movement for equal rights and equality in 20 ****ing 20 because of some violence or looting then shame on you too and I don’t care how upset that may make you feel.

I shed tears at the fact This has been the fight of our Great Ancestors, Our Grandparents, Our Parents... and NOTHING has changed. Well it will not be our Children’s fight.


Black Lives Matter

They Have Always Mattered.

[arista]

[bots]

it is surely in everyone's individual interests to speak up against injustice, whatever form it takes.

[arista]

These UK Marches
are changing nothing.

All the UK laws
are there.

One thing they will do is spread Covd-19.

[arista]

[joeysteele]

Really strong points from AnnieK and Brother Leon on this.

The anger and even despair of the loss of George's life, as it happened could make even the most calmest of people incensed by it.

Other officers stood there while it happened, none took notice of George saying he couldn't breathe.

The USA still has a long way to go in dealing with its race issues..
Sadly so does the UK.

Then as AnnieK says, these violent acts, (unlawful), where Police use violence to kill an unarmed man should create anger and also be worrying to all.

So protests will be done, as they are internationally after that horrific tragedy of the murder of George.
Because that's what it turned out to be..
He was warning them he was in danger and they all ignored his pleas.

If that happened to one of our family, we'd rightly be furious.

The scenes at the protests in London, which were attended by mainly all peaceful protesters.
While unfortunate, as AnnieK said, this is what happens when things are really bad and need changing.

Myself, I'd question even having mounted police there..
I feel mounted police can be seen as a more intimidating part of proceedings.

The minority who then helped bring about more unsavoury element's to the protest, only bring down the headlines and help fuel the views of those who have no sympathy likely whatsoever with this cause.
Of racism and the death of George.
The protesters are rightly incensed.

Injury and damage are always very sad to see but in the main that is caused by a minority who get the headlines.

A media headline, Churchill's statue vandalised.
Doesn't help.
Just as the crazed individual leading the USA saying shooting starts when looting starts, doesn't help either.

Someone passed water on the statue, I'm sure they aren't the first and won't be the last.
To some it could be disrespect but vandalising.
Not at all.

Also Churchill had himself dubious views on subjects, including race.

So I think one of the strongest things said on here is from Brother Leon.

If fed up hearing about racism, think how more fed up it would be experiencing it.
That's a strong message indeed.
So despite yesterday's minority taking the headlines, I hope the continuing message of race issues in the USA and even here in the UK, following the despicable action of those police in the USA taking George's life, is still made known and acted on.
I support these protests and just hope those in power will listen and actually learn.

Am I confident they will listen and learn.
No, not at all.
More likely not because of their own personal mindset however.

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Its awful that it has turned to violence in a small minority of protesters....but frustration at not being heard will lead people to that.

Think back to LGBT rights....and a little further to women's rights. Were it not for activists we would not be where we are.....back before WW1 women resorted to violent demonstrations for their rights...bombings, vandalism, rioting.....do I condemn them for that? Nope because because they did that, I have the right to vote, the right to not be treated as a second class citizen, the right to be heard. Maybe...one day....black people will be afforded that same right unequivocally

This is fine an all, but Arista is the true women's suffrage expert on the forum.

[Oliver_W]

Lying domestic abuser Amber Heard decides to wade in

https://theblast.com/132754/amber-he...e-officer-as-s

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

This is fine an all, but Arista is the true women's suffrage expert on the forum.

Why don’t you burn your bra in protest.

[Nicky91]

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2020/0...hoven-next-up/

In Utrecht some 3,500 people assembled at the Jaarbeurs square near the main railway station, but officials used social media at around 7pm to urge people to stop coming because the space was too full.

In Nijmegen, demonstrators gathered in the Goffert park, where tape had been stretched out to show people where to stand at the proper distance from each other. Some 750 people had been expected to attend, but police photos put the number at around 1,000.

In Enschede, around 500 people took part in the demonstration on the Van Heekplein – the maximum agreed between organisers and the local authorities.

yes and Eindhoven, Tilburg their anti-racism demonstations had both between 700 and 800 people, and yes no risks with covid-19 of course, most wore face masks


but here a little Update on the ''anti racism demonstrations'' in my country

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Lying domestic abuser Amber Heard decides to wade in

https://theblast.com/132754/amber-he...e-officer-as-s

To be fair to Ms Heard, while the bolded part is undeniably true having heard the audio recordings... let's not go down the incelly route of painting the situation as poor, meek, defenseless Depp being a cowering victim of Amber Heard. If you actually follow that whole thing (without blinkered preconceptions) it becomes quickly obvious that the entire relationship was a dumpster fire, there were substance abuse (at least alcohol) issues all round, and they were abusive and violent to each other from the start.

The only part where Depp comes off better, is that he identified how unhealthy it all was earlier, and basically said "we can't keep doing this... we should probably break up... the violence definitely has to stop" and Heard was like "Nah, don't wanna" ... which is an interesting choice certainly.


Off track I guess - I'm not defending her just pointing out that they were both a disaster. Either way not someone you want representing your cause.