The right to peaceful protest in the UK

Casdon

eazybee

What we are seeing is mob violence, not particularly politically motivated but simply a rallying point for the type of thug who used to fight at football matches, now stringently policed, so seeking other venues. I do not like this attempt to classify these thugs as far-right or far- left; they are simply The Mob, in existence through the centuries and hell-bent on creating mayhem.

The riots were organised by the far right eazybee. The evidence is there to prove that. Some of the thugs who turned up were directly linked to the far right organisations, some were thugs with no political affiliation who saw the posts inciting the riots further down the chain as shared posts on social media.

The BBC verify article describes how the riots were organised through right wing networks as alluded to above.
To give you it again, and a quote.
www.bbc.com/news/articles/cl4y0453nv5o

"So how did the protests - starting in Southport and spreading to London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot - begin?
Merseyside Police have publicly identified the English Defence League (EDL) as a key factor.

While there are people who describe themselves as EDL supporters, the organisation ceased to exist in any formal sense after its founder, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - who uses the alias Tommy Robinson - focused on spreading his message on social media platforms, where he has a sizeable following.

But its core ideas - in particular an opposition to illegal immigration, mixed with hate predominantly aimed at Muslims - are very much alive, and loudly and widely spread among sympathisers online.

Thrown into this mix are tropes from conspiracy theories that “elites” are somehow covering up the truth - including the abuse of British children.

An influencer on X associated with Yaxley-Lennon, who posts under the name of “Lord Simon”, was among the first to publicly call for nationwide protests.

His account promoted false claims that the alleged Southport attacker had been an asylum seeker, recently arrived in the UK by boat. His video has been viewed over a million times.

We have to hit the streets. We have to make a huge impact all around the country. Every city needs to go up everywhere,” he said.

Northern Ireland

I'v read the list of proscribed organisations tickingbird. They are all based abroad and their stated aims are not described as relating to the UK except for two home grown ones:

National Action - Proscribed December 2016
The Terrorgram collective - Proscribed April 2024

Plus groups related to Irish related terrorism.

There are lots of other organisations though like Britain first
Sounds like banning protests might have been counter productive in respect to intelligence services

eazybee

What we are seeing is mob violence, not particularly politically motivated but simply a rallying point for the type of thug who used to fight at football matches, now stringently policed, so seeking other venues. I do not like this attempt to classify these thugs as far-right or far- left; they are simply The Mob, in existence through the centuries and hell-bent on creating mayhem.

The riots were organised by the far right eazybee. The evidence is there to prove that. Some of the thugs who turned up were directly linked to the far right organisations, some were thugs with no political affiliation who saw the posts inciting the riots further down the chain as shared posts on social media.

maddyone

I was very cross about the BLM riots too GG. The police allowed all Covid rules to be broken whilst simultaneously charging two women who went for a socially distanced walk and stopped to drink coffee - in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Those women had to pay fines for sitting either end of a bench to drink their coffee, meanwhile during the BLM riots………

Absolutely right💯

What we are seeing is mob violence, not particularly politically motivated but simply a rallying point for the type of thug who used to fight at football matches, now stringently policed, so seeking other venues. I do not like this attempt to classify these thugs as far-right or far- left; they are simply The Mob, in existence through the centuries and hell-bent on creating mayhem.

Yes I was wrong I think. What happened was that the government kept banning the EDL from marching, as far as I can see and in the end they (the EDL membership) gave up.

That is why they are not marching /rioting under the EDL banner.

They are now being considered for classification as a terrorist organisation.

Not sure that will happen.

I welcome the contributions from the publicity machines of various anti-social movements on this thread. I guess it all adds to the info base.

WW3 states the EDL were subsequently banned. I don’t know for sure if they were but I have heard many commentators stating it’s a defunct organisation. I accept their members will still be active though.

Reading the governments list of proscribed organisations is rather illuminating though.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/proscribed-terror-groups-or-organisations--2/proscribed-terrorist-groups-or-organisations-accessible-version

Wyllow3

Why do they participate?

Fed false news

www.bbc.com/news/articles/cl4y0453nv5o

As for optics

*The "optics" for the people of Southport, holding their peaceful vigil for the children and families, invaded by a riotous mob attacking a mosque and peoples gardens and making them confused, frightened and I daresay very angry....?

Then people on a riot in London saying they are "doing it for the children*

The point I am trying to make has nothing whatsoever to do with any of the thuggery on show in the recent riots. It has to do with the way the Police have been, I would say, forced into Policing in a certain way. Can you imagine if during a riot of far right thugs a single non white person was the only one arrested? I think the shouts of racism would be deafening. Yes, I know several people were later arrested but not on the night itself, the rioters were basically left to it.

Rotherham was allowed to happen in part because the Police and Social Services were too scared to intervene in case they were accused of racism. That cannot be right. As per usual, because they have been constantly accused of something (sometimes possibly justified), they have swung the pendulum too far the other way.

JN450

Sorry I hadn’t seen your post. You nailed it.

Read the comments.

youtu.be/hsQDGhVS-tA?si=MTwHcvqqCpt1GTz_

Who are the real thugs, makes you wonder. Definitely 2 tier policing here.

It will be on social media platforms too which is often convoluted. I think that is a concern.

I understand what you’re saying GG, and I agree with you. However, I don’t know the answers, I wish I did.

Thank you for your post JN450, you raised the question of what happened to the men who were attacking the police in Manchester Airport. You were not the only one who didn’t know, Mr M and I were wondering exactly the same thing only this morning. So also thank you Whitewave for filling us in on the outcome.

Grantanow

Policing protests will always require officers to take decisions as the event unfolds and especially if some protesters become violent or commit criminal damage but when officers are vastly outnumbered intervention may not be practicable. Comparing what happens at one demo with another is like comparing apples and pears but agitators will seek to complain about differences. They should be ignored.

Who are you to say they should be ignored? This attitude is part of the problem. Were the mob that gathered outside a police station demanding the release of two thugs ignored? No they weren’t. Until they formed an organised mob the male officer had merely been removed from front line duties. After their, entitled bully boy tactics he was suspended and under criminal investigation.

Officers in London beating someone up for no reason other than he’s attending a protest aren’t investigated. If the community of that man surrounded a police station demanding justice they’d probably get the full treatment.

It’s disgraceful two tier policing and, apart from thugs rioting, it’s no wonder people are sick of it.

You are making yourself clear GG. It's just no one can hear. I dont think that's to do with your delivery.

I do not think I am making myself very clear.

The disenfranchised see on TV how protests are policed differently.

They do not think of or possibly even know why this happens, they just see what they want to see. They are then manipulated to jog on and protest (riot) for a manufactured cause.

This should be acknowledged and addressed, not to do so will lead to more riots and needless violence.

tickingbird

There is one video I’ve seen of police wading in to man at the Downing St protest and absolutely beating the c**p out of him. He was just standing there. He didn’t resist.

Where’s the outrage?

I have seen that clip.

I have also heard the audio when one police officer says to the other pick one, anyone just before hand.

There is one video I’ve seen of police wading in to man at the Downing St protest and absolutely beating the c**p out of him. He was just standing there. He didn’t resist.

Where’s the outrage?

LizzieDrip

This is what the obscene rioters should take heed of:

“The mother of Elsie took to social media on Tuesday evening to ask people to "stop the violence" in Southport.

She said: "This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight.

"The police have been nothing but heroic in these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this."

LizzieDrip

It is wrong on every level that the rioters have hi-jacked Southport’s grief. No one is disputing that.

I am trying to fathom what can be done to harness, redirect and disperse all the anger the disenfranchised of our society have.

AGAA4 and TerriBull

I agree with both your posts.

Starmer should have said to us `i hear you` but no he is actually fanning the flames.

This is what the obscene rioters should take heed of:

“The mother of Elsie took to social media on Tuesday evening to ask people to "stop the violence" in Southport.

She said: "This is the only thing that I will write, but please please stop the violence in Southport tonight.

"The police have been nothing but heroic in these last 24 hours and they and we don't need this."