Masked protesters block Port of Dover

It was crime and policing act 2026 in reference to protests, so it identified new offences such as climbing on memorials etc and it provides guidance on protests and face masks.

And the right of the Police to ask them to move on?
Remove their face coverings ?

There was new legislation introduced regarding face coverings, if I recall correctly the police have the power to ask anyone on a protest to remove their face coverings.

I understand that a large group of mostly men, in black with their faces hidden appears to some (most) as intimidating.

As far as I am aware there were no arrests and the march was peaceful. The chants of whose streets, our streets would have been unsettling to some, but it is true, public streets belong to us all.

The protest organisers were astute in staying within the law, no banners, no markings etc.

As I posted up thread, we cannot ban marches because we (collective not personal) do not agree with the cause.

We either continue to have the right to peaceful protest for all, or the state bans all protest.

I do not agree with these protesters stance, but I respect their right to protest.

(Motorised bikes are more complex, because of course a proper bike helmet also covers the face and is necessary for safety. Thats not to ignore the point of bikes and masks of course, but face covering is sometimes needful. And in very cold weather most bikers do wear a light covering across the mouth and neck under the helmet).

this is why it is sometimes a case by case. As Vintagewhine says where's the harm in the walks to school or shops if women really do feel it's necessary for whatever reason.

I believe the legislation, Galaxy, is around not wearing face covering in jobs where its essential to see faces? I may be wrong but thats been the most widely discussed area.

Thanks Galaxy, for researching that.

Were any of them arrested?
Handcuffed?
Carried away?

It is a complex issue. I don't like them for many reasons. I think there is something sinister about covering the face. Demonstrators for example. Increasingly they are worn in crime related/social unrest situations. Terrorists such as the Provisional IRA and ISIS from what I remember wore face coverings. If they were to be banned and as things stand, there would be many justifiable reasons to do so. Not forgetting this is a route that other European countries have pursued, then that has to apply to all groups, there can't be any get out clauses.

I have just looked at the legislation, it looks very difficult to enforce to a lay person, something about can be asked to be removed in certain areas in protests if can be proven that it is being used to conceal identity.

Well I would fully support such legislation whoever they were.

Interesting point Galaxy, about the legality.
Did you find out?

To be clear… Muslim women wearing black for cultural or religious reasons and Catholic nuns in black or anything similar aren’t relevant to this discussion.

Protesters for any cause can wear any colour they like so the discussion should only be around ‘should the UK ban face masks and balaclavas on marches?’
Bringing red/ swastikas/ Nazis into this discussion is also not relevant as in the Dover protests there weren’t any.

I mean I have to desperately cling on to principles here because it would mean women could meet without the gender mob but got to look at the wider picture! I actually thought there was some legislation introduced about face coverings and protest but I may be wrong.

Galaxy, I share your views on this. It is complex.

I’m aware of the history Wyllow refers to, of course. My mother told the story of one of her uncles arching with Mosley to the horror of his family. She said he really valued the boots he was given to march in, because he had none, no work, no money. Things repeat.
If legislation was mooted to ban face coverings yet a faith group claimed the right to continue hiding, can you imagine the outrage from eg pro Palestine marchers, not to mention these ‘patriot’ groups.

There's a huge difference between Muslim women choosing to cover their faces whilst shopping or taking their children to school and men wearing balaclavas to cover their faces whilst they march along shouting " whose streets, our streets". I'm for peaceful demos and expect those attending to stay within the law regardless of where they stand on the political spectrum. However, to pretend these thugs are peace loving citizens is frankly ridiculous.

Wyllow3

Galaxy

Again are you wanting to say what colours people can wear on a protest.

Are you really asking that seriously? A uniform black dress code creates a menacing visual effect designed to frighten local communities and bystanders. Whoever is wearing it:

...and I am aware of course that some powered bike users do that, but that is actually used by youths of different cultures. However they are not on those bikes carrying swastikas.

It does have significance as opposed to say the point I made above wearing black by innocent Muslim women as is the tradition of their faith. and - across the Muslim world, sometimes other colours are worn as well as face coverings.

Half the kids in Middlesborough on bikes, scooters and quad bikes wear all black and balaclavas or black masks.As Galaxy says so do many other groups and protesters in this country.
The protesters in Dover were peaceful and no arrests made and as far as I could see no swastikas were on display.
Why you bring Muslim women into this conversation is beyond me.

I appreciate that but in each case there are differences, and those are case by case.

What I recall very strongly is that the demonstrators and its not the face covering but out there and never to be forgotton

They were in fact using a very long standing UK meme - and its the blackshirts of Moseley's fascists of the 1930's all in black and Swastika carrying,

Intimidating the public - particularly Jewish people and all non whites as well as those Hitler hit (like gays and vulnerable MH people)

On many many occasions, attacking as well as marching. My Dad would turn in his grave - he was at Cable Street fighting the fascists. Its in our cultural memories and never left entirely behind.

I hate face coverings I have been really clear about that. But there is something about banning them that worries me, it is a complex issue.

It isn’t imo, an intellectual game to discuss what is an increasing point of interest. I’ve been thinking we need an OP on the general issue of face covering. Our town has many more Muslim women in full black body, head and face coverings than in the past

We have young men/boys racing about on quad or e-bikes, dressed in black wearing face coverings. Groups of teenage lads hanging around wearing face coverings

Now a full protest of largely men, marching in black,
Inked a uniform and all with face coverings. I’m uneasy about the way face covering seems to be sliding into a norm, just as police are using facial recognition. I appreciate there is a genuine discussion about Muslim women and what seems increasing use of total cover up. My view is moving towards expecting everyone to stop hiding.

Oh, and that anyone could have predicted this outcome. In fact a number of people have been shouting from the rooftops that this would happen.

I am asking questions, lovely that you think it is an intellectual game, but it isnt my fault if people dont know what to do because they have tolerated it in other groups.

Vintagewhine

I don't judge people by what they wear but by their beliefs and actions. People who support Patriotic Platform are neo Nazis and have links to the bannned English Defence League. You can pretend they are just disgruntled locals if you wish but you are fooling yourself. These men are far right thugs of the worst kind.

But it's such fun to start an intellectual game about Trans activists, charity shops, Palestine and so on.

They might be or they might not be but what is it you think can be done about that march. I think many on the pro palestine marches are dangerous, I think even more on the anti women marches are dangerous, but unless they are part of a banned organisation, what is it that you think should happen.

I don't judge people by what they wear but by their beliefs and actions. People who support Patriotic Platform are neo Nazis and have links to the bannned English Defence League. You can pretend they are just disgruntled locals if you wish but you are fooling yourself. These men are far right thugs of the worst kind.

I’m not sure why they felt the need to wear masks if it was peaceful.What I saw was that they were mostly youngish males but apart from the scary uniform they didn’t seem to be a particular threat. I would object strongly to the disruption of services with any protest including this one.

They are organised as I have said. Again what would you do about that?