to feel a little less in favour of equal rights this am.

I’ve heard there are organised groups which attend demonstrations purely to stir up trouble and clashes with the police. It’s easily done when emotions are high and a peaceful, dignified demo can deteriorate quickly, as happened yesterday.

I did wonder how on earth the test and trace programme will work when a couple of demonstrators test positive.

I’m a horrified by some of the attitudes on this thread.

The Black Lives Matter movement is about more than just George Floyd.

Did you know for example that in the UK a black woman is 5 times more likely to die during childbirth than her white counterpart? (1 in 2,500 compared to 1 in 12,500). They are statistically 40 times more likely to die during childbirth than they are to die of covid-19. I'm finding it a little hard to be sympathetic to people who care so little for me. What have you done to show these women that you ‘care’ for them?

I can understand that people are getting fed up with lockdown. But if your frustrated at being in your home for 11 weeks, imagine how tiresome it is having dealt with varying degrees of racism for your entire life.

This is the greatest civil rights movement the world has ever seen. I fear many of my generation will be on the wrong side of history.

The protests were in a good cause and I fervently believe that racism should be addressed by everyone , BUT , the demonstrations should NEVER have been allowed to go ahead under the current health disaster. Can you imagine the out cry if it had been banned, ‘ Police prevent racism demo!!! ‘ . That’s what we have done to our Police Force, damned if they do and damned if they don’t!

He knelt on his neck till he died EllanVannin.

Exactly Griselda I too am angry and disappointed by the protesters. I believe their cause is right but not their methods. As usual as someone else said they have been infiltrated by rent a mob,

You are being entirely unreasonableto feel a little less in favour of equal rights.

You are reasonable to be annoyed that people risked a huge gathering of people, but to then transfer that to thinking 'oh well, maybe it doesn't matter if black people are treated badly then' is a complete failure of logic.

So what happens to the moron who scared that horse ? A slap on the wrist I suppose.
Trouble now is that our police are going to be more complacent than they already are against the real criminals of society----too frightened in case the handcuffs dig into their wrists, or if assailants bang their heads while getting into a police car.

A thick ear and on your way used to be the best cure and usually the crime wasn't repeated. Or a good telling off was another cure. High-spirited youths who would challenge an officer to a fight would get more than he bargained for when the bobby would take off his jacket. Those were definitely the best days and also the best ways of fighting crime . Shock tactics were the best.

Both society and the police force badly need counselling at anger management centres

Perhaps their patience is wearing thin too?

But they should get back inside and do nothing?

Griselda, why single out this particular group of rule breakers?

Perhaps I did not make this clear - I have great sympathy with the black lives matter campaign and I'm furious with the socially irresponsible who've been sunbathing and so on.

After eleven weeks of self isolating is my patience is perhaps wearing thin, but I am angry and disappointed because I'm basically on the protestor's side

Griselda 'to feel a little less in favour of equal rights' is a nasty thing to say. Either you support equal rights or you don't!

Those who have coordinated protests across the UK did their best to mitigate the risks in the crowd. They came equipped here with stocks of free masks and sanitiser. Imarn Ayton, 29, one of those coordinators, kicked off proceedings through a loudhailer: “We are not here for violence. If you commit violence today you are not for the cause. I don’t want to see no alcohol. I don’t want to see no weed. This is not a carnival. And keep your distance. You don’t need me to say that coronavirus is killing black people.”

Whilst I have sympathy with the cause - I can't say I approve of the mass gatherings at this time. The vast majority have, however, been peaceful with only a small number causing problems. Let's not tar all the demonstrators with the same brush.

As for George Floyd's criminal past - nothing he did warranted the treatment he received. As far as I am aware, he was handcuffed and would not have been a threat to the police officers.

So much racism being displayed on this thread. I’m absolutely shocked to the core. No wonder we are having protests about Black Lives when so many seem to think like the police in America.

Would there have been the same outcry if this had been a white man

Had this happened to a man of any colour, I'd say the outcome would be the same

It was the method. The length of time. The perpetrators. The sheer arrogance of the main culprit, Chauvin

I wonder if he was just so arrogant he felt he had to 'teach' the rookie cops how to behave in a situation such as this

The 2 other policemen who were kneeling on Floyd's back and legs had only been working as fully fledged police for less than a week.

They both expressed concern and on more than one occasion asked if they should stop and turn Floyd over. Chauvin said no and the rest is history

It was a truly horrific crime

I don’t think yours is a selfish point of view Lexisgranny. I wholeheartedly agree with you as one who has been in lockdown since mid March following the guidelines with those of us doing likewise for a very good reason but it appears reasoning doesn’t apply to those who blatantly ignore any guidelines to help all of us stay healthy and not cause yet more deaths.
Dealing with this virus is difficult enough without having to deal with selfish people who think of no one but themselves.

Rosalyn69.
Quote,Would there have been the same outcry if this had been a white man
One can only speculate as to* how long the jury will be out on that question*.

Griselda, why single out this particular group of rule breakers?

At least they had a valid reason for being out in a crowd, however inadvisable that was, with the ongoing pandemic.

What about all the neighbours with their barbeque parties, all those out on the beaches, in the parks, frequently shopping, visiting elderly and vulnerable relatives? Those making lame excuses to carry on as normal. They are the ones I'm very angry with.

Well from a purely selfish point of view.........I could have gone on the demonstration in London yesterday and literally rub shoulders with complete strangers, but according to the guidelines I cannot hug my AC and GC.

THIS MAKES ME VERY VERY CROSS

Some are saying George Floyd was high on drugs a violent criminal Etc and some are saying he hadn’t been in trouble for years. Which is it ? AND whichever it was as you can see he was out of the car and was murdered. Did he deserve that ?

Whose ire, trisher?

I wonder does your ire extend to those queuing in IKEA? Or. is it just protesting you don't like?

Totally agree, Millie22

I hate to see the horses at these demonstrations and having a father who fought in WWII I am appalled at this destructive behaviour.

Unfortunately people will flock to join in to these gatherings. Some of them going with the sole aim to cause mayhem.

What low life throws a bicycle at a horse. The scenes in London were awful and there is no excuse for that behaviour. Graffiti on the cenotaph whatever has all that to do with what happened in America.

George Floyd is not a hero or a martyr.

I doubt he wanted to be either

However I can't believe some of these comments.

Did you watch the full 8+ minutes of this man being murdered in broad daylight?

Shocking and horrendous.

I'm not surprised that people are up in arms.

I am not siding with looters and rioters but the majority of protesters were well behaved. Many wearing masks.

I still maintain the USA will not take any notice of the U.K. protests.

You're maintaining wrong.

American friends on FB are discussing our protests along with protests around the world. It's not just the UK doing this.

This from CNN

edition.cnn.com/2020/06/06/world/gallery/intl-george-floyd-protests/index.html