Forum Topic

Out of control protest in Westminster

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/29/london-pro-palestine-protests-police-hurt-met-westminster and https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/29/palestine-protest-london-police-injured-gaza-arrests

Lucille Grant ● 392d8 Comments

Mr Hawkes I wasn't accusing you of stating the comment.

Lucille Grant ● 391d

Ms Grant'I didn't say that 'all participants ... last night were violent'.Don't worry it will soon be the end of university term and all the participants will be on the beach.That will leave Mr Carter alone to march for the Palestinian cause !

John Hawkes ● 391d

Ivonne I didn't say that 'all participants ... last night were violent.' It was those who refused to depart after the 8.00 pm curfew by the police who turned on them.Michael, of course I don't want us to be like thosecountries I mentioned in my post. I merely wanted to illustrate how others refuse people the right of protest. They are enemies of free speech. But there are some trouble makers who take our right to protest too far. I include those calling for a global intifadaamong them.

Lucille Grant ● 391d

Lucille, I agree, the violence is totally unacceptable!It reminds me of the poll tax riots......I believe we all have right to protest - whether we do or not is another matter.The sad fact is that were trouble makers in the midst of the demonstration last night - just like there were in the poll tax riots of the 1980s.I will never, ever, defend trouble makers but yes defend the right for peaceful demonstrations.  I think it is unfair to say that all participants in the demonstration last night were violent.  We know that previous demonstrations were peaceful....

Ivonne Holliday ● 391d

Are you saying we should be like them then?

Michael Brigo ● 391d

It's the enormous cost of policing these ongoing protests that I disagree with. Democracy comes at a huge price. Needless to say there are many countries (Russia, North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran) to name a few who will not countenance such protests.

Lucille Grant ● 391d

There will always be people willing to turn up to any cause and use violence.Blaming the peaceful protestors, or the cause, for the actions a stupid minority and trying to ban it would be like banning everyone from driving because a small minority drive recklessly and kill people.

John Kettlekey ● 391d

Police officers who got up that day to do a normal days work several have now suffered life changing injuries by being hit with glass bottles.Free speech comes with responsibility and this movement is showing it’s true colours.

Robert Wheeler ● 392d