Protests following the killing of George Floyd

Maagge

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Well, in Ireland it's to get out of the house and for instagram likes.
Surely the Irish of all Europeans should have no issues whatsoever empathising with the blacks in the States?
 

oneniltothearsenal

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Reading further down... the man is Andy Goodman who wrote several episodes for Dinosaurs, an early to mid 90s sitcom.
He's a good man.

“If we are given a platform, we use it to support the movement,” said Goodman. “Otherwise we should be quiet. This is a time to learn. Read something like “White Fragility” by Robin D’Angelo, or “So You Want to Talk About Race” by Ijeoma Oluo, or “How To Be An Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi. Those are on my reading list.”
https://www.larchmontbuzz.com/featu...ns-comments-supporting-the-protests-go-viral/
 

caid

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Surely the Irish of all Europeans should have no issues whatsoever empathising with the blacks in the States?
Unfortunately not. We have the same problems every other european country has.

Is there any country getting this shit right? Or even vaguely close to right?
 

Foxbatt

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Wow. A guy in LA who is articulate and very knowledgeable about racism and apartheid. Very eloquently said.
 

Maagge

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Unfortunately not. We have the same problems every other european country has.
But you also have a history of being on the other side of colonialism, so to speak, unlike a lot of European countries.
 

Vitro

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I’m sorry but if you believe the HK protests merit more attention in countries like France and UK than the George Floyd murder I can only commend the media for continuing to do such a good job of manufacturing consent.
You’ve got it the wrong way round. The media is much more interested in BLM than the situation in Hong Kong, for various reasons. It’s definitely more “interesting”.

In the meantime, the situation in Hong Kong, a territory Britain helped to transfer to an autocratic power after a long period under British colonial rule (ending 40 years ago) has just had its autonomy damaged and is witnessing a key step in the erosion of democratic freedom. Britain has a very real responsibility in highlighting and pushing back against China.

Of these 2 very significant issues, only one is clearly being underreported on in the UK.
 
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BobbyManc

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You’ve got it the wrong way round. The media is much more interested in BLM than the situation in Hong Kong, for various reasons. It’s definitely more “interesting”.

In the meantime, the situation in Hong Kong, a territory Britain helped to transfer to an autocratic power after a long period under British colonialism has just had its autonomy damaged and is witnessing a key step in the erosion of democratic freedom. Britain has a very real responsibility in highlighting and pushing back against China.

Of these 2 very significant issues, only one is clearly being underreported on in the UK.
I haven’t got anything the wrong way round. You’ve misinterpreted my point if you think I was saying that the media is focusing more on the HK protests than the protests about racism.
As for the idea the HK issue is being ‘underreported’ I find that laughable - as a good rule of thumb whenever a power like Britain or America invokes ideas of “protecting democracy” or defending “human rights” you can treat it with a huge fecking dose of salt. In terms of significance to the average citizen, the China/HK dispute is a fart in the wind compared to the actual hurricane of oppression and racism that is an inescapable daily reality for many in Britain/America/France.
 

Vitro

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I haven’t got anything the wrong way round. You’ve misinterpreted my point if you think I was saying that the media is focusing more on the HK protests than the protests about racism.
As for the idea the HK issue is being ‘underreported’ I find that laughable - as a good rule of thumb whenever a power like Britain or America invokes ideas of “protecting democracy” or defending “human rights” you can treat it with a huge fecking dose of salt. In terms of significance to the average citizen, the China/HK dispute is a fart in the wind compared to the actual hurricane of oppression and racism that is an inescapable daily reality for many in Britain/America/France.
Everything said by anyone can be treated with a huge dose of salt, but you only have to look at what’s actually happened and how those in Hong Kong feel about it to understand the dire situation.

Just as we have a moral obligation to the consequence of our involvement in the slave trade, so do we to the people of Hong Kong.

Average citizen of which country? The West certainly, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China not so much.

With a UK centric view BLM is a more relevant issue to the people in the UK but Britain was an empire which had global effects on millions of people, so although localism is a natural state of being we can’t just ignore people because they seem distant.

Edit: I just read back and realised you were disputing that the protests in Hong Kong were a bigger media issue than BLM so I think my response didn’t take that into account. I think there should be more focus on BLM within UK but I don’t think what’s happening in HK should be minimised which I’m sure we both agree upon.
 
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AFC NimbleThumb

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Because simply, I grew up with my white english side of the family, and I'm not super dark or heavily featured, so in my life and how I refer to myself, as a white British person. My identity and how I feel about myself is hard, and I chose at a young age, and with my english family to fit in. As I say, I'm more european looking, and do pass for british european etc in my looks. I've never said in my life that I am black, ever. Simple as that. I don't need to explain how difficult it is to feel or look differnt or feel that you don't fit in with even your own family. I've always said as does my family that I'm british and thats that. I am looking like european though. As I say, if you knew me you'd understand. No worries you can believe what you want. I feel like I belong with my english family, and I am not raised any other way.
I’d like to discuss this further but don’t want to further derail this thread. . . so many questions. . .

To each their own though.
 

caid

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But you also have a history of being on the other side of colonialism, so to speak, unlike a lot of European countries.
We do. People are quick to forget, I guess. Maybe were marginally better than average (i really doubt it) but were a long, long way from having a handle on it.
 

11101

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:lol: believe it or not - the protests have taken over the entire media space. Even the pandemic is now a backstory.
Which is not what should be happening. Its fecking stupid seeing all the crowds out today, the protests are not worth the potential for spread. They can be done another day or another way. I hope I am wrong and we dont see thousands of cases coming out of this like we have in every other large gathering.
 

Simbo

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This is the complete difference in British to US policing...

When the protestors line up in front of the police on their knees (from 1.30 minute mark) "saying hands up dont shoot",they just walk past and confuse them. In the US as we have seen, you get pepper sprayed, tear gassed, dragged to the floor or shot with a rubber bullet..

This is why its so embarrassing attacking police and using copy cat behaviour

Yeh its great, but also just common sense. I can't help but think the protesters over here are just dickheads. Whereas in the US its the police. Complete role reversal.
 

sammsky1

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This so so real and so powerful, one of the greatest speeches I've ever heard. If you watch only one VDO today, it has to be this (only few mins long).
It's from Kimberley Jones, who uses playing Monopoly as an analogy to understanding the heinous economic injustice imposed on black people in USA.
(Kimberly Jones, author of I'm Not Dying Here With You Tonight)

 
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0le

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This so so real and so powerful, one of the greatest speeches I've ever heard.
If you only watch one VDO today, it has to be this one. Give it the time of day and listen.
(Kimberly Jones, author of I'm Not Dying Here With You Tonight)

It certainly summarises well quite a lot of the feelings there. I think the analogy with the monopoly board was very well put too. The ending statement was fantastic too.
 

Foxbatt

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I haven’t got anything the wrong way round. You’ve misinterpreted my point if you think I was saying that the media is focusing more on the HK protests than the protests about racism.
As for the idea the HK issue is being ‘underreported’ I find that laughable - as a good rule of thumb whenever a power like Britain or America invokes ideas of “protecting democracy” or defending “human rights” you can treat it with a huge fecking dose of salt. In terms of significance to the average citizen, the China/HK dispute is a fart in the wind compared to the actual hurricane of oppression and racism that is an inescapable daily reality for many in Britain/America/France.
Spot on. The HK one is a different topic and some people have no idea what they are talking about.
The HK police are fairly light weight compared to what is happening in the USA. They don't go murdering innocent people just because they are of a different ethnicity.
 

BobbyManc

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Good thread about those who seem to be very vocal in denouncing the protests on public health grounds
 

noodlehair

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If it was all about a thought through set of demands, followed by a steady campaign to build support, then I agree, arguing about the timing of a march or the continuation of protests over days, or changing tactics to avoid public health risks would mean something. But this is about pent up frustration and anger that says yes, we've seen it all before - we know it happens, but this time we can't just switch it off and get on with something else. It's currently about saying this matters, and saying it often enough and loud enough that it doesn't just roll straight off the front page and into twitter-land again.
Are you sure this is the case? "Peaceful protest" is a really bizarre concept to me when it involves blatant disregard for the wellbeing of other people's lives. Like "we don't give a feck if you die but we're calm enough about it not to smash up your shop windows".

There's a debate about this on my facebook right now involving people who went, and we've already had "I always go to protests to support causes I agree with"...that does not sound like pent up frustration and anger to me. It sounds like someone who goes to protests coming up with an excuse to go to a protest.

I don’t think he’s racist, or that he’s said anything racist, but his response to the protests is odd as he’s posted several times that people should be going back to work and schools should be opening in the UK. That’s exceedingly more likely to spread the virus than the protests we’re witnessing.
He mocked colleagues and people worried about returning to normal life so I don’t see how he can now turn around and condemn these protests because of the pandemic.
To be fair, If you don't think what someone has said is racist, probably unwise to call what they say "blatantly racist"..the person you replied to didn't say anything racist so I can only assume you were referring to me.

A couple of things here. Someone going back to work in a key sector (which is what I was arguing) or opening schools to very limited numbers of students (which is also what I was arguing), is definitely not more of a risk than tens of thousands of people marching the fecking streets together multiple days in a row. I mean there is a reason why we aren't allowed to go to football games and why "mass gatherings" are identified as the highest risk.

Also. The reason I was arguing those things is because they are important to support the most vulnerable people who have found the current situation the most difficult, and who may need help to come out in one piece. Where as these protests do not help anyone or anything as far as I can tell, and actually the people most likely to come into harm as a result are the exact same vulnerable people, which includes significant proportions of the black community.

Suggesting that hosting a series of mass protests in the middle of a pandemic that has killed 60,000 people is irresponsible behaviour, is not actually a particularly controversial opinion. It's also not an opinion that goes away by just insinuating it is racist, because it isn't racist.
 

Dante

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If you are not part of the protest or organising the protests in the UK then please don't speak on their behalf about that they are protesting about. Take the time to listen to what they are saying first.
I was at the Manchester protest this morning.
 

Cascarino

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To be fair, If you don't think what someone has said is racist, probably unwise to call what they say "blatantly racist"..the person you replied to didn't say anything racist so I can only assume you were referring to me.
Mate reread my posts and tell me where I called you blatantly racist, or racist, or even guilty of having a racist view. The only time I mentioned racist was to say that you weren’t.