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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]

Anniebach Thu 09-Nov-23 11:34:23

Iam64 Braverman seems heaven sent , suddenly any troubles will be laid at her door.

I believe the police weighed up - who will cause the most trouble for us,

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 11:50:55

Braverman is putting the police in harms way, because her rhetoric is encouraging the hooligans, Tommy Robinson’s coterie etc to go to London this weekend. A very small number but with the potential to cause absolute mayhem.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 12:08:03

Sunak is between the proverbial and a hard place. Keep Braverman and look totally weak. Sack her and she can take pot shots from the sidelines. She only got the job after she was sacked first time around to keep her quiet.

This morning at the covid enquiry, a senior police chief said that the BLM protests were entirely peaceful, so Bravermans statement in the Times is wrong and lying.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 12:12:51

But the BLM protests weren’t entirely peaceful at all. I saw the news coverage as did most posters, and I’m afraid it’s simply not true that they were entirely peaceful.
It obviously it suits the police and others to claim that they were peaceful, but the evidence on our screens showed otherwise.
I really dislike the rewriting of history that happens regularly nowadays.

maddyone Thu 09-Nov-23 12:14:22

Sunak is a weak PM. I don’t know what he’ll decide re SB, but whatever he decides won’t make him any stronger.

Whitewavemark2 Thu 09-Nov-23 12:20:56

maddyone

But the BLM protests weren’t entirely peaceful at all. I saw the news coverage as did most posters, and I’m afraid it’s simply not true that they were entirely peaceful.
It obviously it suits the police and others to claim that they were peaceful, but the evidence on our screens showed otherwise.
I really dislike the rewriting of history that happens regularly nowadays.

But that is what was reported and not challenged at the covid enquiry.

So as far as I can see that is the truth.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 12:23:23

You dont get to decide which march goes ahead, they all go ahead or none.

MaizieD Thu 09-Nov-23 13:17:15

Anniebach

The police ‘have no reason to believe’

The police in Edinburgh, where one of the alleged assaults on a poppy seller took place,have viewed the cctv records (plenty of them at a main line station) and have found no reason to believe that an assault took place.

What more do you want?

25Avalon Thu 09-Nov-23 13:59:08

Whitewavemark2

maddyone

But the BLM protests weren’t entirely peaceful at all. I saw the news coverage as did most posters, and I’m afraid it’s simply not true that they were entirely peaceful.
It obviously it suits the police and others to claim that they were peaceful, but the evidence on our screens showed otherwise.
I really dislike the rewriting of history that happens regularly nowadays.

But that is what was reported and not challenged at the covid enquiry.

So as far as I can see that is the truth.

So it’s peaceful to drag a statue down, defile it and dump it in the river as happened in Bristol where the police were so weak and ineffective. Interestingly one of the organisers who raised BLM funds has been found guilty and sent to prison for 2 years for stealing those funds for her own personal use.

NotSpaghetti Thu 09-Nov-23 13:59:19

maddyone
Thought I'd share this about the "poppy-seller"

MaizieD Thu 09-Nov-23 14:25:18

25Avalon

Whitewavemark2

maddyone

But the BLM protests weren’t entirely peaceful at all. I saw the news coverage as did most posters, and I’m afraid it’s simply not true that they were entirely peaceful.
It obviously it suits the police and others to claim that they were peaceful, but the evidence on our screens showed otherwise.
I really dislike the rewriting of history that happens regularly nowadays.

But that is what was reported and not challenged at the covid enquiry.

So as far as I can see that is the truth.

So it’s peaceful to drag a statue down, defile it and dump it in the river as happened in Bristol where the police were so weak and ineffective. Interestingly one of the organisers who raised BLM funds has been found guilty and sent to prison for 2 years for stealing those funds for her own personal use.

It didn't cause any fighting or injury. Seems peaceful to me.

Defiled the statue? Are statues sacred artefacts? Even ones that are an insult to many of the population and had been the subject of requests to remove it for years and years?

How do you feel about the smashing of statues such as communist leaders in former communist countries, or Saddam Hussein?

Does a fairy die every time a statue is defiled? hmm

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 15:05:16

Right so we are clear, behaviour on marches is judged by how you feel about the cause. That's not freedom of speech or freedom to protest.
There arent many things I believe in more than a womans right to choose however I feel physically il about some of the behaviour exhibited by the police to pro life supporters.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 15:10:47

And by that logic it will be absolutely fine if Tommy and his friends go around smashing statues (makes a change from women I suppose).

25Avalon Thu 09-Nov-23 15:19:07

Pulling a statue down and smashing it when it is not your property is criminal damage.

How about police vehicles set on fire, police injured, and trapped in their police station. Was that not violent?

Anniebach Thu 09-Nov-23 15:29:21

When were police vehicles set on fire ?

Callistemon21 Thu 09-Nov-23 15:35:10

Anniebach

When were police vehicles set on fire ?

Two years ago in the Bristol protests which turned into rioting. Police were inside the vehicle at the time.
The perpetrator was convicted and sent to prison.

Anniebach Thu 09-Nov-23 15:44:23

Thank you, I didn’t know of that . Police are playing it safe this time,

Anniel Thu 09-Nov-23 16:20:33

Sunak reflects the opinion of the majority who are dubious about allowing the Pro Palestinian and ANTI JEWISH people march to go ahead. Some posters here know very little about the goings on in places near my home in Golders Green, Hendon etc where many Jewish people live and have businesses. I have enjoyed shopping and eating there but there have been attacks on shops and Jewish people are scared. Jewish schools need a security presence and some have remained closed. The chants at the marches are sometimes Antisemitic and this is completely unacceptable. I cannot support banning the marches because I believe in free speech, but I am appalled that they cannot postpone their marches over this weekend. I see Jeremy Corbyn will be in attendance...Ugh! I think many people did not realise how many Muslim people now live in the UK. They are British but sometimes do not agree with Western Democratic values. Imagine what happens in Iran when women gather to protest about wearing the hijab. As a feminist I disagree with the hold Muslim men have over women in their families. I have gay friends and family members and Muslim attitudes towards gays appall me, so I realise I am biased. I think that is partly due to the films of concentration camps we were shown as children, I have never forgotten the horror shown in those films and visiting Auschwich (sp) and other shocking camps I can never forget and it colours my opinion. Please understand my feelings!

MaizieD Thu 09-Nov-23 17:42:14

25Avalon

Pulling a statue down and smashing it when it is not your property is criminal damage.

How about police vehicles set on fire, police injured, and trapped in their police station. Was that not violent?

It wasn't 'smashed'. How people like to exaggerate.

It was tipped into the river.

And it didn't seem to be anyone's 'property'.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 17:45:35

So again it will be fine if Tommy and his friends do that?

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 17:49:49

MaizieD the statue was badly damaged when it was dragged from its plinth along the cobbled street before being pushed into the dock.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 09-Nov-23 17:52:33

I am betting the impression that posters are happy with any march or protest if they are against the Government, anti long held U.K. traditions, anti establishment and/or left of centre.

Galaxy Thu 09-Nov-23 18:09:56

I am left of centre granny, none of this nonsense aligns with my values. And to be fair my values havent changed.

25Avalon Thu 09-Nov-23 18:13:58

If you don’t believe me MaisieD go down M Shed in Bristol and ask to see it.

Namsnanny Thu 09-Nov-23 18:17:43

Whitewavemark2

Hope not Hate - the group set up after Joe Cox murder, is monitoring the situation this weekend- in particular the far rights plans for the so called “defence” of the cenotaph.

Wwmk2 .....Any one who is naive enough to take the word of HnH as an unbiased authority on, well anything needs to think a lot harder about where they get their information from.