A huge march against the Far Right

Allira

Is this the only country where some people are ashamed of their national flags? 🤔
It does not belong to one extremist group.

It needs to be reclaimed.

I agree. We need more people like the couple who live next door to fly the flag with pride on days special to the the UK.

Yes our flag needs to be flown with pride.

I am not ashamed of the English Flag🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 nor the Union Flag 🇬🇧

Just because a group of agitators have decided to use them as symbols of division, doesn’t mean others who want to show patriotism by flying our flags are wrong’ens…

Last year the far right activist Tommy Robinson organised his protest march "Unite the Kingdom". He claimed three million attended- the Met Police estimated around 110,000. Incidents of hate crime resulted in some hate crime arrests. Union Jack and 'fallen hero', 'god bless' Charlie Kirk flags proliferated in media photos. Photos also showed the protesters were predominantly male and predominantly white. Despite Tommy Robinson's statements of triumph There will be those who always ask what did this protest actually achieve.

Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd "When you hear people talk about the special relationship between America and Great Britain, this is the special relationship you're seeing here". Elon musk addressed the crowd "Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die". Hopes were that Musk would make a significant donation to Reform UK.

Several months on, Trump is not only testing the UK/US special relationship but also his diplomatic relationships with his allies globally. He is not liking the response. This week we also saw new rules place a cap on donations to UK political parties from overseas and crypto donations. We also saw Farage, in a fit of pique, walk out of PMQs. What did the march achieve therefore 6/7 months on? It could be said on the one hand Musks's thoughts of donating to Reform UK contributed to the new donations rules- an adverse outcome for Farage/Reform UK and Tommy Robinson- tick. It could be said the march had no beneficial outcome to strengthen the 'special relationship' between Reform UK and Trump/ MAGA as Trump recently failed to even bother to meet Farage when Farage on his special mission to specifically to see Trump. An adverse outcome for Farage.

Yesterday The Together Alliance was joined by other groups and causes including Palestine Coalition, Stand Up to Racism etc) in an anti far right riposte to Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom protest. Not predominantly white, male protesters- much more diverse. The Together Alliance claimed 500,000 marched but the Met Police said more like 50,000 though they admitted it was "hard to estimate" as the marchers were more dispersed and there were additional counter groups also protesting (as outlined above.) Yesterday placards displayed pro immigrant messages such as "fight ignorance not immigrants' and 'reject racist lies". Politicians, high profile figures, unions representing teachers, public service workers and fire brigades also joined in. The aim of the various groups was to stand up against the hatred, division and racism encouraged by the far right, Reform Uk and Tommy Robinson.

There are those who will say the march yesterday achieved nothing. Just as the Unite the Kingdom march- it may take some months for beneficial and adverse outcomes to surface. It can be said however that yesterday's spectacle showed a strong riposte to Tommy Robinson and his Unite the Kingdom anti immigrant rhetoric. The photos were stark in their difference- as mentioned by some- ie the intentional difference in flags waved plus the stark difference in placed messages, all clear to see in media photos.

Thats what's so great about UK free speech and democracy. It will be for the British public to choose which protest resonates and which influences its public vote in due course. The visual metrics will influence how it decides to treat its neighbours who may not be white British born and bred.

Big anti Trump demonstrations in NYC, too.

Yes- the anti Trump and anti republican, anti authoritarian rule protests at the same time in US is fascinating. Good to see 👏

The flag issue is mirrored state side. MAGA/ Trump claimed the US flag as its emblem and proliferates in all MAGA rallies in media photos.

Just as in London yesterday the anti trump protest media photos yesterday media did not show a proliferation of US flags. Not because the protesters are not proud of their country or their flag but more likely that instinctually a riposte to the Trump/MAGA claim on the flag and to show non allegiance to TRUMP rather than dislike of their flag. .

I seriously doubt the 500,000 figure.

Cossy

Graphite

... it wasn’t unified about anything.

Were you there? I was.

Sadly, a thread that Bluebelle started with good intention has very quickly been hijacked by the usual negative people. Time to hit that hide button.

Yup!

Let’s see the very worst in everyone and everything and let’s call those who hope for a better future for our children and grandchildren “naive”.

I know which approach I prefer, and thank you meandrogrog for your kind comment!

I live in the same world as the rest of us, I still have hope and empathy and 🙏🙏 I always will

I know you have good intentions and I wish what you wish for too but I have studied history and know that there has always, sadly, been conflict. It is usually over territory, religion, power etc.

Just as we all seriously doubted Tommy Robinson's 3,000,000 figure!

Look, the point isn’t “are we wearing rose coloured spectacles” or “Am I Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” or even “Pollyanna”, comments that are a total waste of your time, as it’s like water of a ducks back.

I’m extremely proud to have raised 4 children to accept people of all nations and colours, to understand what causes racism, to respect one another’s views/beliefs/values, to stand up for what is fair and just, to recognise that it’s partially due to our behaviour during the Empire years and partially due to corrupt regimes that so many people seek refuge in other countries.

I simply don’t care if you think this makes me “naive”, that marches “achieve nothing” that this is the way it’s always been.

Some people show their true beliefs by marching against what they feel is wrong, some people understand that if we don’t change nothing around us will change.

Patronising people for wanting to improve our world and try and level the playing thing is frankly just a tad pathetic.

Back in the day protests achieved a lot, suffragettes and apartheid are just two examples which spring to mind.

Hope not hate is a not bad outlook to have.

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

Cossy

Look, the point isn’t “are we wearing rose coloured spectacles” or “Am I Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” or even “Pollyanna”, comments that are a total waste of your time, as it’s like water of a ducks back.

I’m extremely proud to have raised 4 children to accept people of all nations and colours, to understand what causes racism, to respect one another’s views/beliefs/values, to stand up for what is fair and just, to recognise that it’s partially due to our behaviour during the Empire years and partially due to corrupt regimes that so many people seek refuge in other countries.

I simply don’t care if you think this makes me “naive”, that marches “achieve nothing” that this is the way it’s always been.

Some people show their true beliefs by marching against what they feel is wrong, some people understand that if we don’t change nothing around us will change.

Patronising people for wanting to improve our world and try and level the playing thing is frankly just a tad pathetic.

Back in the day protests achieved a lot, suffragettes and apartheid are just two examples which spring to mind.

Hope not hate is a not bad outlook to have.

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

Well said 👏👏👏
If you lose hope you lose everything.

Sorry, level the playing field thank you auto (in) correct!

So funny to think you were worried about GNs ignoring your Thread, BlueBelle.
Only started this morning and already generating five pages of posts.🌄

Oreo

The numbers taking part were puffed massively by the organisers.

You counted?

Well said, Cossy. I couldn't agree more.

Great posts LemonJam and Cossy.
Thank you 💐

If nothing else it doesn't say a lot about the politics of lamp posts.

Cossy

Look, the point isn’t “are we wearing rose coloured spectacles” or “Am I Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” or even “Pollyanna”, comments that are a total waste of your time, as it’s like water of a ducks back.

I’m extremely proud to have raised 4 children to accept people of all nations and colours, to understand what causes racism, to respect one another’s views/beliefs/values, to stand up for what is fair and just, to recognise that it’s partially due to our behaviour during the Empire years and partially due to corrupt regimes that so many people seek refuge in other countries.

I simply don’t care if you think this makes me “naive”, that marches “achieve nothing” that this is the way it’s always been.

Some people show their true beliefs by marching against what they feel is wrong, some people understand that if we don’t change nothing around us will change.

Patronising people for wanting to improve our world and try and level the playing thing is frankly just a tad pathetic.

Back in the day protests achieved a lot, suffragettes and apartheid are just two examples which spring to mind.

Hope not hate is a not bad outlook to have.

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

No-one is disagreeing with that though, Cossy, well most of us are not.
Most of us deplore Robinson, know that Farage and Reform are not in Government and wonder why he/they get so much airtime and do not want Musk interfering in our politics.

However, finding out the facts about this protest March, the numbers and indeed the purpose as there seem to be different themes/protests is not easy.

Feeling shame for our flags does seem to be a uniquely British trait, however, despite what you say about Trump and the Stars & Stripes. The Union flag supposedly represents union, although Wales is not represented. 🤔

You're not the only one with family of different ethnic backgrounds on here.

I've only read as far as Page 2 so apologies if I am going over old ground.

By the end of Page 2 the pro far-right seemed to be appearing. I wonder if one of them could tell me why they want to do away with democracy - because that's what the far-right stand for, first by weakening rights and institutions and then by rejecting elections or pluralism altogether.

Why do those attacking this march want that?

DaisyAnneReturns

Oreo

The numbers taking part were puffed massively by the organisers.

You counted?

Did you?

How many?

DaisyAnneReturns

I've only read as far as Page 2 so apologies if I am going over old ground.

By the end of Page 2 the pro far-right seemed to be appearing. I wonder if one of them could tell me why they want to do away with democracy - because that's what the far-right stand for, first by weakening rights and institutions and then by rejecting elections or pluralism altogether.

Why do those attacking this march want that?

No-one is attacking the march, as far as I can tell.

However, there seems to be some confusion as to the numbers, the purpose and the aims of some of those marching, perhaps due to poor reporting.

I understand it was supposed to be similar to the marches taking place across the USA and in European cities, ie the No Kings movement against Trump.
Or were the British, as usual, doing their own thing?

Perhaps if it had been reported accurately, we might be clearer about what happened.

Allira

DaisyAnneReturns

Oreo

The numbers taking part were puffed massively by the organisers.

You counted?

Did you?

How many?

No, I didn't Allira. But l was only asking a question not suggesting others had lied.

Tommy Robinson is nothing more than a thug.
He certainly doesn’t speak for the vast majority of people in this country on the Right of politics.

ronib

sixahalf you do realise that the photos from this demonstration yesterday didn’t place it in the UK? It could have been anywhere. So if it’s okay with you, a whinge about St George is quite minor considering the loss of British identity currently being approved of by the msm.

Please could you explain what you mean by "loss of British identity currently being approved of by the msm".