[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Sorry, but I cannot agree with that. Violence is *never* justified. Personally, I don't think the people who started the violence were in it for anything but the chance to give someone a kicking (I would say "Police", but, tbh, I doubt they were that fussy). Also, if what you say is correct, they ran as soon as the police started to respond. That isn't the action of someone who truly believes in the the protest. That is cowardice.

What about the poll tax riots? The D-Day landings? The toppling of Mussolini? The English civil war?
All done by force, all used violence. Shall I cite more examples?

There is a time and a place for everything, including violence. I've seen kids get bullied for years and years, when a single well placed act of violence would easily have prevented it.

I guess the crux of the matter is whether or not violence has any place in the recent student protests. I think the students should be aware of the PR war being fought, and perhaps some actions should be avoided to prevent advertising themselves as a bunch of hoods.

You missed my point (which, tbh, I thought was quite simple). It was that he was able to overcome his disability when he wanted to climb 18 flights of stairs (something which I freely give respect to: He did something for his beliefs I would have trouble doing, and I am not Wheelchair bound). Oddly, however, he could not get out of the chair when asked to do so by the Police.

I got your point, however I'm unsure if you got mine.
Jody getting out of his wheelchair, is comparable to you climbing a drain pipe. Surely you are not seriously suggesting that he should have got out of his wheelchair, are you? Yes he can do it, but that requires significant effort, otherwise he wouldn't be in a wheelchair.
If so, then what would he have then done, gone for a stoll? No, he can't stand for any length of time and would have ended up on the pavement.

If Jody had been seriously injured as a result of him walking, the police would have simply said "Well, he's the one who got out of his chair - considering he has CP, kind of silly of him don't you think?"

If I can be quite honest, I think you are clutching at straws trying to make excuses for the police in that instance, and in essence you are attempting to defend in morally reprehensible.
They pulled him out of his chair, not once but twice. The first time he was also hit with a baton (not on video, but there were witnesses). They could have wheeled him around, but instead they dragged him across the pavement. Real tough guys, letting a disabled guy know "who's in charge".