Do protests work?
Discussion
Focussing specifically on the impact of protests and riots through history and now, what do they achieve?
Looking at the BLM protests/riots/anarchy you'd think that nothing would be achieved but there seem to be things happening. So whether you like the idea of a good protest (poll tax?) or hate the idea of looters stealing trainers in the name of something else, what legacy have protests had?
Looking at the BLM protests/riots/anarchy you'd think that nothing would be achieved but there seem to be things happening. So whether you like the idea of a good protest (poll tax?) or hate the idea of looters stealing trainers in the name of something else, what legacy have protests had?
History has proven that civil unrest does force politicians to change their minds. America has been shaped by civil disobedience. You could argue the USA is formed by civil disobedience, from the war of independence to the civil war through to the abolition of prohibition and the civil rights movement. Don't forget the civil opposition to the Vietnam war.
The UK too has had lots of instances where civil unrest has changed laws. Think of the long term consequences of the Peterloo Massacre, the women's suffrage movement. Most of us can remember the pole tax riots.
So whilst they may not be welcome, history has proven they can work. If you look at this current one, if the police officers had been arrested immediately after it happened then the unrest may not have started. Those who started it now feel vindicated because the officers concerned have now been arrested. ( A conviction is another thing though)
The UK too has had lots of instances where civil unrest has changed laws. Think of the long term consequences of the Peterloo Massacre, the women's suffrage movement. Most of us can remember the pole tax riots.
So whilst they may not be welcome, history has proven they can work. If you look at this current one, if the police officers had been arrested immediately after it happened then the unrest may not have started. Those who started it now feel vindicated because the officers concerned have now been arrested. ( A conviction is another thing though)
Drumroll said:
History has proven that civil unrest does force politicians to change their minds. America has been shaped by civil disobedience. You could argue the USA is formed by civil disobedience, from the war of independence to the civil war through to the abolition of prohibition and the civil rights movement. Don't forget the civil opposition to the Vietnam war.
The UK too has had lots of instances where civil unrest has changed laws. Think of the long term consequences of the Peterloo Massacre, the women's suffrage movement. Most of us can remember the pole tax riots.
So whilst they may not be welcome, history has proven they can work. If you look at this current one, if the police officers had been arrested immediately after it happened then the unrest may not have started. Those who started it now feel vindicated because the officers concerned have now been arrested. ( A conviction is another thing though)
Good pointsThe UK too has had lots of instances where civil unrest has changed laws. Think of the long term consequences of the Peterloo Massacre, the women's suffrage movement. Most of us can remember the pole tax riots.
So whilst they may not be welcome, history has proven they can work. If you look at this current one, if the police officers had been arrested immediately after it happened then the unrest may not have started. Those who started it now feel vindicated because the officers concerned have now been arrested. ( A conviction is another thing though)
Generally a sign of a healthy democracy that demonstrations and protests are permitted to take place and shouldn’t be curtailed. Of course violence and vandalism shouldn’t be tolerated but like a moth to a flame, demos can attract those hell bent on causing trouble. We shouldn’t lose our right to protest simply because of a few nutters.
It’s worth noting that, especially in London, demonstrations are quite a common thing and they pass off peacefully with only a few bored coppers nearby trying not to fall asleep in their van. Even big marches like the anti-Brexit March and the annual Mayday march pass off without trouble.
It’s worth noting that, especially in London, demonstrations are quite a common thing and they pass off peacefully with only a few bored coppers nearby trying not to fall asleep in their van. Even big marches like the anti-Brexit March and the annual Mayday march pass off without trouble.
Jasandjules said:
But rioting etc is to me unacceptable and appears frankly to be undertaken by people just out to loot and rob using the excuse of protesting to do so.
The looting does seem to be a modern thing doesn't it? If you like at previous riots in the UK - Brixtion Riots and the race riots of 1919, it seems to be the destruction that got the governments attention.valiant said:
Generally a sign of a healthy democracy that demonstrations and protests are permitted to take place and shouldn’t be curtailed. Of course violence and vandalism shouldn’t be tolerated but like a moth to a flame, demos can attract those hell bent on causing trouble. We shouldn’t lose our right to protest simply because of a few nutters.
It’s worth noting that, especially in London, demonstrations are quite a common thing and they pass off peacefully with only a few bored coppers nearby trying not to fall asleep in their van. Even big marches like the anti-Brexit March and the annual Mayday march pass off without trouble.
When race is involved though it does tend to get violent though. The EDL marches are a good example of that.It’s worth noting that, especially in London, demonstrations are quite a common thing and they pass off peacefully with only a few bored coppers nearby trying not to fall asleep in their van. Even big marches like the anti-Brexit March and the annual Mayday march pass off without trouble.
Wasn't much to loot at Orgreave when the flying squad and miners has a shin dig.
That was a fight for principles stakes (with of course potitical / state undertones on both sides).
But whilst they were having a bit of an argument did you see socialist supporters smashing up Rotherham, Bawtry, Sheffield etc etc? No.
We knew how to have a proper scrap with the rozzers in the 1980s, without it getting distracted into social media virtue signalling.
Social media is the problem with today. /Ironymodepostinginforumoff
"Looter will always loot. Loot the rich man, not the game". J13 M62 M/way bridge on the way home tonight.
That was a fight for principles stakes (with of course potitical / state undertones on both sides).
But whilst they were having a bit of an argument did you see socialist supporters smashing up Rotherham, Bawtry, Sheffield etc etc? No.
We knew how to have a proper scrap with the rozzers in the 1980s, without it getting distracted into social media virtue signalling.
Social media is the problem with today. /Ironymodepostinginforumoff
"Looter will always loot. Loot the rich man, not the game". J13 M62 M/way bridge on the way home tonight.
s1962a said:
The recent Hong Kong riots are a good example of where change in laws might have been influenced, albeit temporarily. Post Covid it looks like dissent will not be tolerated anymore.
I thought the HK ones might actually get somewhere.But covid has completely undone them, and yeah, China is going to lock the province up tight a as drum from now on I reckon.
vikingaero said:
I suspect that I'm not the only one who turns off from a cause when the muppets riot and smash things up.
It certainly gives revolting activists something to revolt about. By which I mean, the cause may or may not be valid and some certainly are, however when there are rentamob anarchists who bring protests into disrepute via actions that go beyond protesting, it's also a revolting and off-putting sight.
Interesting fallout from this - are people being over backwards to out-do anyone remotely criticising or making jokes about Floyd?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52988959
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52988959
Crossfit CEO Greg Glassman said:
According to Buzzfeed, hours before posting the fateful tweets, Mr Glassman had told gym owners on a private Zoom call: "We're not mourning for George Floyd - I don't think me or any of my staff are.
"Can you tell me why I should mourn for him? Other than that it's the white thing to do."
"Can you tell me why I should mourn for him? Other than that it's the white thing to do."
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Indeed.Focused protests, even with violence, work. Emancipation of women. Simple concept, we want votes. Poll tax, again simple concept, we don’t like it.
This protest is incoherent in its objectives.
“Justice for George Floyd” - so if Chauvin gets 30 years, are we done?
“No more slavery statues” - OK, no one really cares
“Less racism”, well yes, of course, who would disagree with that?
So what changes? You’ll get the BBC whining about stop and search for a while, knife crime will go off the charts and everyone will be begging for it to come back.
I guess it depends on the dominant narrative; when a bunch of people walked around with tikki torches they were branded domestic terrorists. Now we have murders, arson, robbery, anarchy and assault but mercifully the dominant narrative from our media (including the bbc) is that these are "largely peaceful protests".
Seems the idea of applying a principle is somewhat of an alien concept these days.
Seems the idea of applying a principle is somewhat of an alien concept these days.
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff