Forum Topic

Thousands of covidiots in Central London yesterday

I was in the centre yesterday but managed to avoid the demo, but it was clear it was big as we counted at least three police helicopters. But I'm not so concerned about the protest as such and I'd defend the right to protest even in a daft cause like this, but I am concerned about the nature of the coverage on the BBC News yesterday: two people on the demo were interviewed; one talked incoherently about everything being a lie, the other complained the "There's no freedom to choose what's injected in your body, there's no freedom to speak,there's censorship everywhere" - all of this broadcast on prime time news. Clearly, the second of these had no concept of irony, but what worried me was that there was no attempt to balance these views with a rational response, and that was disturbing.

Richard Carter ● 1837d21 Comments

People from your political persuasion Richard have been calling for non stop lockdowns from the start.As your previous comments on lockdown suggest, you are happy to call people covidiots at any opportunity for breaking any small rules and you appear happy to sign away your freedoms to more government draconian laws so extra measures can be enforced.Yet in Bristol there is a group of left wing thugs who are setting police stations on fire, in the name of fighting against further draconian laws being implemented.C'mon make up your mind Richard, do you want further draconian rules to be implemented or not?Who really are the covidiots?

Colin Redmond ● 1835d

What a strange comment! Can you really not distinguish between peaceful protestors and thugs out to indulge in violence for its own sake? There are always some of the latter: even on the anti-BLM protest last year "to protect our statues" and supposedly in support of the police, there was violence and bottles were thrown at the police cordon.

Richard Carter ● 1835d

It's the unintended consequences of the pan bashers. Over the last few years so many pan bashers out protesting about one thing or another allowing these thugs to hijack their protest and hide under/ behind  their flag.The police are just citizens like us and dont deserve to be attacked by these people.No doubt at the next protest some copper will be a bit tough on a protester  and be vilified for it. Maybe the law needs tightening up, how ironic  !!

Andy Pike ● 1836d

Some people seemed to take "Kill the Bill" the wrong way, judging by the number of injured police officers (male and female).  Awful stuff.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1836d

When I was younger the police were 'The Bill'  Placards were somewhat ironic

Barbara Shillabeer ● 1836d

I think the problem with so many peaceful demos is they get exploited by the rent-a-mob troublemakers, who usually join later on or after dark.What happened in Bristol is a classic example of this but no less shocking for the scenes we saw on our TVs last night.The answer is not the govt's planned legislation on banning "very noisy" or "very annoying" public gatherings, it is the underlying causes that leave the marginalised feeling they have nothing to lose and everything to gain by these attacks on any symbols of the powers-that-be, in this case the police (as it so often is).

Jonathan Callaway ● 1836d

It looks like there are protests throughout Europe.Probably not the wisest of times for the UK to try and restrict future protests when they have actually banned all current protests under tier 4 restrictions.I had a quick Google as I was wondering where other countries stood on this.It looks like several countries constitutions (Ireland for example) allow for protest but there is a public health clause - the same with Article 11: Freedom of assembly and association.There doesn't seem to be as big an issue with protests in counties that have handled Covid well (mainly outside Europe).Probably because the lockdowns were fairly short. In Europe there is general concern that the public health exception was only meant for short term suspension not for multiple occurances lasting months.

Ed Robinson ● 1836d

Quite possibly. I did go to the follow up protest at P Square on the Monday, that was a mix of XR, BLM, Sisters United and a few other groups that I haven't heard of.I have to say it was a very different from an XR protest, there was a lot of deliberate police baiting, although no violence it was a bit uncomfortable for me with a feeling that there was some agitation going on. XR policy is always very clear, do not engage with the police but equally do not provoke them.I'm very firm in my non-violent direct action beliefs, as are all the XR people I know and that's why we left relatively early.

Matt Palmer ● 1837d

That can be a problem with a banner. Others use it as camouflage.

Andy Pike ● 1837d

It seems there were a wide range of protesters yesterday - from business owners complaining about the economic affect of an extended lockdown and those opposing the new bill restricting protests to those promoting conspiracy theories and the professional demonstrators after some agro. Probably why there were a lot more attending than anticipated; sounds like the police initially took the view they were out numbered and went with the flow until the violence started near the end. 

Michael Ixer ● 1837d

it most certainly was not taken over by XR, I can't speak for the other groups but we were specifically asked to keep away and respect the vigil for what it was.the non-violent aspect is something we are trained to respect as an absolute priority.

Matt Palmer ● 1837d

Well done Ed , well looked up.

Andy Pike ● 1837d

Here is the ruling on the case - it was not available when I last looked, I think it was published on the 19th:https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/leigh-and-others-v-commissioner-of-the-met-police/

Ed Robinson ● 1837d

Ok Ed whatever you say

Andy Pike ● 1837d

Andy that does address the issue with the Commissioner and the PoW.Not to mention the numerous other questions, such as why people were not turned back before they arrived?And if the commissioner was going to let the event go ahead why didn't they work with the organisers.Sorry Andy this makes no sense from the beginning til the end!

Ed Robinson ● 1837d

Ed I am aware the vigil was illegal but the vigil was all but over when these other idiots came to cause trouble.You have to try and separate the two events even though it would have been better had it not happened at all.

Andy Pike ● 1837d

Sorry Andy is this the vigil that the commissioner said she would have gone if it hadn't been unlawful, but allowed her officers to escort the PoW to the same inlawful event?Seems to me one needs to make an apology surely?

Ed Robinson ● 1837d

What I was clumsily suggesting is that she was not there for the vigil and arrived later for the trouble.I agree on the male thugs a lot of the pics of the post vigil trouble is men in balaclavas and the like. Ironic that at a vigil about Male violence some men think it ok to turn up and be violent. There is a word for them but not in polite society....

Andy Pike ● 1837d

Yes, and Corbyn was there yesterday, along with that other fool Lawrence Fox.But I don't see what Patsy Stevenson's regular attendance at protests has to do with anything: are protests rationed now?Incidentally, the vigil-turned-protest and yesterday's protest both ended with the usual trouble-makers turning violent, and guess what? They were, of course, almost entirely men. Sadly, there are some people who just turn up to cause violent trouble.

Richard Carter ● 1837d

Looking at some of the pictures on FB last weeks vigil was taken over by Piers Corbyns mob, BLM,XR and other groups, and they were the main problem. Seems that most of those  at the original vigil had left Sarah's family and friends are very upset at how these quasi political groups hijacked the evening. The ginger lady being handcuffed turns out to be a regular at protests  and was not there during the afternoon event.There may be  some politicians who havevyoj eat humble pie when the enquiry is completed.

Andy Pike ● 1837d

The policing of this event stands in stark contrast to the way they dealt with the vigil on Clapham Common last weekend.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1837d