Should any marches around or near the Cenotaph this weekend not be allowed?

silverlining48

Or worse still, that the government take over. The right of protest is democracy at its most basic and should be rigorously protected.

I completely agree... a very slippery slope

Iam64

I don’t know about Rotherham but the cenotaph in Rochdale was vandalised this week, with pro Palestinian slogans. It’s so sad to see support for peace resulting in that kind of disgraceful behaviour

Sorry, I probably got the wrong place. Apologies.

Thank you Madgran for pointing out my mistake. However I have also reported properly and am still hoping to get the title changed.

I can see both sides of this. I believe in free speech and am so happy I live in a liberal democracy. I believe that protests and marches are a fundamental part of that democracy. However I’m concerned that Tommy Robinson’s name has been mentioned with regard to this particular march and I worry that his presence, or the presence of his followers, will really kick things off in a most undesirable way. I’m also concerned about police numbers and if there will be sufficient to police both events properly. As Joseann mentions there will be other remembrance events during the weekend, in particular on Saturday, and again there is potential for problems. However, if the march was to be banned, it would probably inflame tensions, and possibly cause even more trouble. People would probably descend on to London anyway and that in itself could be problematic.

I understand why you’ve cancelled your visits this weekend GrannyGravy. I visited London for three days shortly after the events of 7/10 with my daughter and her children, visiting from New Zealand. I was very concerned before we went because one of my grandchildren is extremely anxious and the mere noises and unfamiliar sights and crowds spooked him a bit when we first arrived. I thought any signs of demonstrations would be seriously upsetting for him, but as we were visiting mid week, we saw and heard nothing unusual, and our visit proceeded well. The little one adapted after initial fear and anxiety and enjoyed his trip.

In this country, people have the right to hold protests, but I think that right should only apply to British citizens. I wonder how many people have intentionally come into the country to take part in these protest marches and how many are illegals?

Seems the faults lie with The Home Secretary and Robinson, the protesters are sooooo innocent

I don’t know about Rotherham but the cenotaph in Rochdale was vandalised this week, with pro Palestinian slogans. It’s so sad to see support for peace resulting in that kind of disgraceful behaviour

Oreo

Oh there’s bound to be protesters out and about in London on the Sunday.

They have nothing to do with the planned march on Saturday.

I'm sure the police will be prepared for them.

I'm more worried about Tommy Robinson's plans to 'protect' the cenotaph...

PS Maybe I am naive but keeping people safe to express their non violent feelings is the work of police and it's the police who know best how to do this.

Remembrance is about war and the pity of war. Remembrance embraces all who suffer from war and all nations who suffer from war.

Not only soldiers sailors and airmen but all widows , bereaved parents, and terrified children.

A cenotaph is a symbol of right feelings so it is ignorant to deface a cenotaph.

This weekend is a big deal to the military and families having lost loved ones and time to reflect. This has got nothing to do with other countries this is for British people to remember our war dead our vets. A lot of our soldiers will be in uniform travelling to London this weekend and for that other march to go on just shows what respect they have for our country. They should not do it this weekend. I think they will be trouble this weekend and it will change our country for the worse. I feel sorry for the Jews in our country who no longer for safe and the sheep on the marchs for follow a group that thinks it is fine to rape children etc and attack old men for selling poppies and not one of them went to his aid I say shame on you all.

maddyone

I’ve reported the post and hope they’ll change it.

Maddy your quote and request to change is on the thread above so not sure if it will be seen by GN??

The Met commissioner made clear during interviews that there is no legal reason to stop the march in support of Palestine. He had previously asked the organisers not to march this Saturday in respect of Remembrance. I’m sure he will have been given legal advice, which he’s following. Thank goodness he’s in charge rather than Suella Braverman who it seems is yet again using inflammatory, divisive language.

The possibility of civil unrest is high of course. It will need huge police presence to attempt to keep the peace.

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

It’s the Lord Mayor of London annual show/parade during the day on 11th Nov, we have cancelled our plans to go.

There is no way I will take young children to London at the moment, we have also cancelled a family meal in London 11/11

I no longer feel safe in my capital city.

Why? Are you letting Braverman’s rhetoric persuade your actions?

It has absolutely nothing to do with The Home Secretary.

We went to London a couple of Saturdays ago, and having witnessed protests/protestors have decided it is neither appropriate nor safe to be in the capital with young children at the weekend at the moment.

GrannyGravy13

It’s the Lord Mayor of London annual show/parade during the day on 11th Nov, we have cancelled our plans to go.

There is no way I will take young children to London at the moment, we have also cancelled a family meal in London 11/11

I no longer feel safe in my capital city.

Why? Are you letting Braverman’s rhetoric persuade your actions?

It’s the Lord Mayor of London annual show/parade during the day on 11th Nov, we have cancelled our plans to go.

There is no way I will take young children to London at the moment, we have also cancelled a family meal in London 11/11

I no longer feel safe in my capital city.

I think they are afraid Joseanne as they are so outnumbered.

Oh there’s bound to be protesters out and about in London on the Sunday.

It's not just about the Sunday Remembrance ceremony though is it?
To my knowledge there are two remembrance festivals run by the Royal British Legion at The Royal Hall on the Saturday afternoon/evening. (The Albert Hall being on the edge of Hyde Park, so potential for clashes with protesters who will be in the area at the same time). Added to this, trouble on the tube and down side streets is possible.
I'm OK with a peaceful march going ahead alongside other events, obviously not in the same roads, but my problem with it is that the police are too afraid to enforce the law if anyone plays up.

If you have a look at the route of the Palestine protest, you will see the closest it gets to the Cenotaph is 1 mile.

The U.K. has always been traditionally a tolerant and inclusive society, and are proud of our recognition of freedom of speech.

We may not like it, finding it disrespectful, or, we may fully support it, finding the call for a ceasefire entirely appropriate for the day of armistice.

What I am exceeded worried about is Braverman’s failure to take the heat out of this by her language of hate.

At least the service and remembrance parade will go ahead first.

The planned march is on SATURDAY. The Remembrance Day ceremonies are on SUNDAY.

How many times do posters have to point this out?

I'm sure that there will be a huge police presence at the Cenotaph on both days.

silverlining48

Would also say that I would rather have a police decision than the government deciding about protest We all know where that can lead.

Well yes, that’s why decisions are in the hands of the police.
It all rests on can the police deal with it? We shall have to see at the weekend.
At least the service and remembrance parade will go ahead first.
Anyone who attacks a cenotaph for any reason is an ignorant idiot.

Germanshepherdsmum

The police say they don’t have the necessary powers to stop a march taking place. Would we rather the government do so or have protesters disrupting the remembrance ceremony? There are always people with their own agenda who latch on to a protest march.

In any given year there is always potential for the Remembrance ceremony to be disrupted,

As the march is being held the day before the usual ceremonies I don't see quite why it should affect them in any way at all.

There would be even bigger protests if protests were banned. The security and police numbers involved in the Remembrance services are mammoth, at least they have some prediction of police required if protests are planned, to ban them and have potential larger unplanned protests and civil unrest would be far worse than allowing them.

The police say they don’t have the necessary powers to stop a march taking place. Would we rather the government do so or have protesters disrupting the remembrance ceremony? There are always people with their own agenda who latch on to a protest march.

It’s a day for remembering those who died in the service of their country, not for marching up and down and complaining. I like to remember those in my family who lost their lives and I think it shows disrespect to schedule protest marches on this day. They can march the next day or whenever, up to them.