Demonstrations - Have you? Would you?

Nanna58

many with East Midlands CND, Aldermaston, Greenham Common. I really wanted to march last Saturday and had come over to be there- but date had to be changed. Will be there in spirit, for sure.

Marches always bring to mind a certain kind of person, not one I'm familiar with and I would never in a million years join one.

My thoughts are borne out by reading some of the fervour displayed by some GNers who can't wait to meet up with others on here to show solidarity.

It usually has no effect on the cause bar a headline here or there.
As for taking backpacks, placards, water, coffee and sarnies and hanging around for hours listening to someone spouting tosh regarding the EU...nah.
I wonder how many of your AC and GC will be there.
Are any of you going to meet up with the relatives you're doing this for?
Will you still march if the rain is a deluge or will you slip into the nearest coffee shop and talk the talk instead of walking the walk?

I'd put a bet on that being on the cards.
Good luck ladies.
It won't make a whit of difference but enjoy your day out.

Amagran and anyone else, I wish you all the best. Enjoy the day.

All the very best all of you.

March for me and all the other grans who can’t make it.???? boots made for walking

In my student days I was active in getting students a greater say in their own education as well as other causes.

Now I have lived long enough to see some of the things our generation fought for such as a society that accepted homosexuals, was willing to welcome immigrants and refugees and to accept that others had differing political and religious views, are apparently of no importance to the young and some of our attitudes have been replaced with contempt, I am afraid I think, why bother?

Wrong I know, but I don't think there is much likelihood of being heard these days.

If I feel someone has received unfair rough justice, I can get very aggrieved. Demonstrations are often the only way to get things changed eg

suffragettes
Hong Kong
Jail sentences for innocent people

But I could never participate now, as I`m a wheelchair user with toileting as a priority issue. I wonder how those able bodied people manage?

Then I couldn't do with being bashed by anyone.

So I prefer to do my `demonstrating` by putting pen to paper.

I hope you return home safely

GabriellaG54 I’m sorry you have such a low opinion of demonstrations and demonstrators.

Nobody expects anyone to march if they don’t want to, obviously, but to suggest that most Gransnetters will bunk off if it’s raining is not very nice. Do you think people will travel from Scotland and far flung places and then just sit in a café?

The whole point is to be counted.

BTW, I have adult children there.
And, incidentally, since I started typing this, photos of them in the rain.

More than a million protesters crammed into the streets of central London to fight for a second EU referendum as Boris Johnson suffered another humiliating defeat, say organisers.

Aerial footage showed extraordinary scenes as throngs of people marched from Park Lane to Parliament Square in Westminster amid a historic showdown in the House of Commons.

Britons calling for a "final say" vote on the Prime Minister's new Brexit deal were joined by celebrities such as Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart and opposition politicians in one of the biggest protests ever seen in the capital.

Cheers erupted from the massive crowd outside Parliament as MPs passed the Letwin amendment in a 322-306 vote, delaying the approval of the deal and forcing Mr Johnson to seek a delay.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/peoples-vote-march-one-million-20654591

Well done all you Gransnetters who joined the march.

The 50 million UK residents who never ever voted for this brexit nonsense have been ignored for far too long. We are entitled to have a Final Say on whether we want to condemn our children and grandchildren to this second rate brexit Britain future.

Most of us do not want that. We want to Remain in the EU and continue to enjoy the best deal we could ever have with our friends and partners in the European Union.

Some people are convinced that others are as shallow as they are. I wanted to be counted and say “not in my name” . I didn’t head for a cafe. Didn’t mind a bit of rain. We are British after all. Lovely atmosphere where I was but so many people we didn’t get to hear any speeches. So glad I went.

Well done crystaltipps and thank you very much.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

paintingthetownred what a horrible post. GabriellaG54 is entitled to her opinion.

I'm sure Gabriella will be telling painting just that, soon enough.

boodymum67; the power of the pen will always be a most powerful tool in a democratic society.....

A typical response from an ex exp pat female with 3 degrees to her name
Reading her other responses confirms my original opinion.
Featherweight.

ex exp ex ex

I’ve never marched (I loathe crowds), but I was with them in spirit yesterday, passionately European. I leave it to my brother, who is a natural demonstrator. He started with the Aldermaston marches in the sixties, and has been on many marches since. He was there with his wife yesterday. I have to admire him. He is 83 and can only walk with a rollator. They don’t do the whole distance, but join in along the way.

They met Shirley Williams, who is 89 now but was struggling along with the aid of a stick.

A very big thank you to all who encouraged, reassured and supported me and gave me tips as I joined my first demonstration yesterday.

It was a great, great day in so many ways. For me personally, I found that everyone on the coach was welcoming and supportive, everyone looking out for each other while actually on the march. The atmosphere on the march was amazing - the shouting, chanting, whistles, drums, live music, placards. I carried a Grans placard, which was photographed several times by young people who said they wanted to show it to their Remainer grandparents!

For those who might doubt the actual value of a demonstration such as that yesterday and doubt the point of turning up to be counted, I read something last night said by one of the EU negotiators (can't remember which, might have been Barnier). It clearly indicated that he had been impressed by the sheer numbers of people who turned up and their commitment to Europe. Quite apart from anything else, that really makes it worthwhile.

I do think demonstrations/marches help, even to simply show the strength of feeling.

There was a bus that went from where I live. It was organised by the unions and some other groups. I heard say some of them got paid to go and only went for the Christmas shopping afterwards.

I was at work. I wouldnt have gone anyway.

According to German tv the march was attended by 2.2 million people. I think this is probably an over-estimate but we can be sure that, like the march in March this year there were between 1 and 2 million people marching for a People's Vote.

As far as I know, there were no incidences of violence or disorder or any arrests at either march. Contrast that with the violent behaviour of the pro-brexit thugs who can hardly muster more than a few folk yet hurl abuse and threaten to attack people.

The brexit politicians encourage this loutish behaviour, constantly warning that people are angry and so brexit "must not be thwarted".

The media are just as much at fault. How many times do we hear about the leave-voting Labour constituencies, but never about the very large number of Remain voting Conservative constituencies?

I live in a large remain voting area. It is never mentioned, no4 are the people ever interviewed

Well done Amagran, thanks for reporting back to us.