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

(697 Posts)
maddyone Wed 08-Nov-23 09:58:48

Following the defacing of a Cenotaph in Rotherham yesterday, would it be advisable for the police to rule that marches in or around the area of the Cenotaph should not be allowed, this weekend only?
A poppy seller was attacked by people in a huge crowd this week, people who have been marching on previous weekends have committed hate crimes by calling for Jews to be eliminated. Should the sanctity of the Cenotaph and the Remembrance Service be at the mercy of the marchers to choose to do the right thing? Why was a Cenotaph thought to be a legitimate target in Rotherham?
Surely those who live in our liberal democracy should understand why this weekend is particularly special to so many people. Those of us who live in this country, a liberal democracy, should understand that compared to so many people in the world, we are very lucky to live in a country that affords us great freedoms, including the right to protest peacefully. Peaceful protest however, does not include the right to call for the deaths of other people, to attack poppy sellers or others, or to deface public buildings.
Why are the London police refusing to use the laws that are already available to ban any marching around this area for for this one weekend?

* [Typo in the title has now been edited by GNHQ]

Callistemon21 Wed 08-Nov-23 23:03:43

Dinahmo

It hasn't been mentioned in the above but 1.5 million Muslims died in WW2. Should we not also remember them?

We do.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 00:01:46

On Armistice Day all those who gave their lives for our freedoms are remembered.

I will be remembering my two great uncles (my grandmother’s brothers) who both died in WW1. I will remember her tears when she spoke of them some 40/50 years later. I will also be remembering my father’s cousin, shot down and killed in WW2.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 07:23:58

Braverman needs to rein her neck in.

She is now trying to pit the Palestinian March against football hooligans, declaring that the the police have “favourites” and arrest more football hooligans than peace marchers!!

What is wrong with her?

silverlining48 Thu 09-Nov-23 07:34:27

She is deliberately making things worse by using all this hate talk. She has little support in her own party yet carries on regardless.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 07:47:50

The pro Palestinian marches might be calling for peace, but there are people attending them with faces covered, chanting from the river to the sea carrying offensive posters (commonly a Star of David in a bin, with an offensive slogan) and calling for Jihad.

It’s the minority which are grabbing the headlines and causing fear.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 07:49:41

I think that she is out of control, and both her and Sunak are behaving unconstitutionally.

She is having a go at Northern Ireland now. “Hate marches are what we are used to seeing in NI”

She has to be sacked.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 07:58:31

This

“Braverman is inciting a Jan 6th moment. She’s hijacking Remembrance Day, using fake patriotism to incite the far right to attack those of different religions and races. That’s what our men fought against and died for in the World Wars. She’s the only one desecrating the cenotaph.”

Tweet from superstanski

Parsley3 Thu 09-Nov-23 08:01:39

Writing in The Times, Braverman said right-wing protests that became aggressive were often stopped, while "pro-Palestinian mobs" were permitted.
She needs to be stopped as she is deliberately inciting violence.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 08:08:05

We have had weeks of these peace marches every Saturday in London. Every one of them peaceful and United with people of all faiths and none joining in.

If there is trouble this weekend it will be solely on Braverman and as the tweet said her 6th January incitement to violence

I fervently hope that the far right have more sense than to dance to her tune.

NotSpaghetti Thu 09-Nov-23 08:16:29

I had no idea that this day was originally called "Joy Day" by the government and was filled with riots and anger.

I heard James Heartfield speaking about it on The Moral Maze on the radio yesterday. Sounds like it was a way to quell dissent because of the poor war pensions and lack of repatriation etc. I only caught the end of the programme - but will try to listen to it today if I can.

Here's an article about it from 5 years ago:

www.google.com/amp/s/www.spiked-online.com/2019/11/10/the-forgotten-story-of-remembrance-day/amp/

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 08:18:47

Oh will listen to that - thank you

Iam64 Thu 09-Nov-23 08:28:02

Is Braverman hoping Sunak will sack her? She can then present herself as a strong right wing potential leader?

She’s dangerous isn’t she.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 08:43:33

Braver man is behaving poorly, however anyone pretending that many Jewish people havent been frightened because of the chants and some behaviours is not being honest.

westendgirl Thu 09-Nov-23 08:45:45

It is time Braverman was reined in.
This is all for effect on behalf of the far right group who are supporting her.
Dreadful.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 08:52:19

Galaxy

Braver man is behaving poorly, however anyone pretending that many Jewish people havent been frightened because of the chants and some behaviours is not being honest.

Totally agree

Grantanow Thu 09-Nov-23 08:54:05

Braverman's statements are disgraceful and Sunak should sack her. The test for banning a match is the risk of 'serious' disorder and the police clearly think that criterion has not been met. There will always be fringe thuggery and manipulation of naive marchers by ill- intentioned agitators but they have to be met with police action as they occur.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 09:00:41

I have been very clear I dont think the march should be banned, but I am very clear that the Tommy Robinson (who I loathe for numerous reasons , domestic violence being one) lot should also be allowed.
I would also say the police behaved fairly disgracefully towards a range of marches, the Sarah Everard vigil, Rebublicans, etc.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 09:00:48

Galaxy

Braver man is behaving poorly, however anyone pretending that many Jewish people havent been frightened because of the chants and some behaviours is not being honest.

Quite!
The marches were not peaceful. There were clashes, arrests, poppy sellers attacked twice (one a man, the other a group of three women) people hiding their faces and chanting from the river to the sea. There have been thousands of antisemitic incidents, and Jewish people are afraid in their own country. No, the marches have not been peaceful and additionally have terrified Jewish people up and down the country.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 09:01:53

There have been over 200 arrests at U.K. pro Palestinian marches since 7/10.

These were for antisemitism, inciting racial hatred (calling for Jihad) and a couple for Islamophobia.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 09:02:50

If they are intent on calling for peace, why are so many hiding their faces?

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 09:04:31

Galaxy

I have been very clear I dont think the march should be banned, but I am very clear that the Tommy Robinson (who I loathe for numerous reasons , domestic violence being one) lot should also be allowed.
I would also say the police behaved fairly disgracefully towards a range of marches, the Sarah Everard vigil, Rebublicans, etc.

I totally agree with this.
I’m unhappy about the marches but on the whole I suppose they must be allowed. But I dislike the fact that the police choose which marches to support. What happened at the Sarah Everard memorial in the park, it wasn’t even a march if I remember correctly, what happened was disgraceful.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 09:06:17

Who on earth is superstanski?
I’ve no idea and I don’t care what his/her opinion is!

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 09:07:48

And they did the same towards the Republicans on either the coronation or the Queens funeral (sorry I dont mean to be disrespectful I just cant remember). Now whatever I may think of those protests it's no good getting upset about it now. That ship sailed years ago and we watched it happen.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 09:10:38

Galaxy

And they did the same towards the Republicans on either the coronation or the Queens funeral (sorry I dont mean to be disrespectful I just cant remember). Now whatever I may think of those protests it's no good getting upset about it now. That ship sailed years ago and we watched it happen.

So the conclusion would be that the police are choosing soft targets. Frightened to upset the pro Palestine marchers, but happy to manhandle Sarah Everard mourners.

varian Thu 09-Nov-23 09:22:17

The organiser of the Armistice ceremony at the Ce otaph backs the marh

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/08/organiser-of-armistice-day-event-at-cenotaph-hopes-pro-palestine-protest-can-go-ahead