Students Rioting in London.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by Derek

Thats not a charge. Light trot maybe

Walking pace.

[Ignitionnet]

We need a Tomy 'My First Demonstration' kit for these guys, complete with phone card and picture of mum to show the police when it's pick up time

[Derek]

Shamlessly stolen from Inspector Gadgets site.

I don’t know what makes me laugh more:

1) What total wimps today’s “revolutionaries” are. At least back in the 80s you expected that if you went out rioting to bring down the “fascist state”, you’d probably get a whack or two. Today they’re like, “Anarchy! Revolution! Chuck that fire extinguisher! Wait you can’t make me stand out here in the cold for hours, it’s downright chilly and I might catch a sniffle! Anarchy! Smash the state!”

2) The priorities of today’s left.

Civil rights which took hundreds of years to achieve thrown out: let’s write a stiff letter to the Guardian

Country goes to war for no good reason, killing hundreds of thousands: let’s protest peacefully.

Portia told she has to pay for her own 3 year contemporary dance course and Timmy for his film studies degree: Riot! Anarchy! Smash the state!

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Derek

Shamlessly stolen from Inspector Gadgets site.

I actually agree with some of the sentiments expressed in Kevins post in relation to prioritization of principles.

However, unfortunately I don't think it'll be too long before someone, somewhere, ramps this up a level and a policeman or policewoman is very seriously injured or killed.

If / when that happens I hope he's at ease with his apparent misplaced admiration for the more militant / violent protest(s)ers that would be only too happy to visit upon the constabulary the sort of violence (and worse) he appears to miss / recall with great fondness from the 80's.

We live in an age where there are more illegally armed individuals roaming the streets than ever before. Sometimes one has to be careful for what one wishes for.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Derek

Shamlessly stolen from Inspector Gadgets site.

LOL. I read it earlier and thought IG cracked it. Never read the comments though.

I see the press are immediately jumping the evil-police-horses-mercilessly-trying-to-kill-woman's-unborn-baby bandwagon.

It's amazing not only how many pregant women just always seem to end up in the middle of a protest which were always going to become violent but also on the front line of a confrontation with coppers.

Still soon enough we'll find out that she's not pregant and the issue is quietly dropped.

dammed if they do ,dammed if they don't .The police got vilified by the press for not reacting with stronger numbers during the last protest and now they get vilified for using stronger numbers in the next riot because, rightly so ,they expected trouble .They can't win

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

I actually agree with some of the sentiments expressed in Kevins post in relation to prioritization of principles.

However, unfortunately I don't think it'll be too long before someone, somewhere, ramps this up a level and a policeman or policewoman is very seriously injured or killed.

If / when that happens I hope he's at ease with his apparent misplaced admiration for the more militant / violent protest(s)ers that would be only too happy to visit upon the constabulary the sort of violence (and worse) he appears to miss / recall with great fondness from the 80's.

We live in an age where there are more illegally armed individuals roaming the streets than ever before. Sometimes one has to be careful for what one wishes for.

And yet the most iconic photo of the rioting students in the 60s involved a boot to the head of one hapless policeman...

It's the rage that is the dangerous element in all this.It's been a long time since students have protested in such numbers.They have been pretty apathetic on the whole for the last 20 years and now they are stirred up and some elements, as they always do, will push matters to stupid lengths.
Let's hope that no one gets seriously injured or even killed because of stupidity.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

And yet the most iconic photo of the rioting students in the 60s involved a boot to the head of one hapless policeman...

Which one?

[Mr Angry]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

And yet the most iconic photo of the rioting students in the 60s involved a boot to the head of one hapless policeman...

It's the rage that is the dangerous element in all this.It's been a long time since students have protested in such numbers.They have been pretty apathetic on the whole for the last 20 years and now they are stirred up and some elements, as they always do, will push matters to stupid lengths.
Let's hope that no one gets seriously injured or even killed because of stupidity.

I agree entirely Maggy.

I read an interesting comment on one blog which read "This morning, the parents and teachers of Britain woke up angry, in the sure and certain knowledge that the administration they barely elected is quite prepared to hurt their children if they don't do as they are told".

Whilst that is a very blanket statement, and best described as an opinion rather than a statement of fact, of real concern to me would be the fact that nobody seems to have noticed the obvious societal dangers which are presenting.

If the academically gifted of the nation, with a potential career path ahead of them, are prepared to jeopardize that future by taking part in protests (whether participating in violence or not) then what of those who in their own minds have no future and, by proxy, nothing to lose?

Are we to believe that they will quietly skulk in a corner and tug their forelocks simply because "an administration they barely elected" would like them to?

I really don't think so. There are those who will exploit this situation to their own ends and there are those who, presented with the reality of the situation, will feel entirely justified in expressing their anger and rage at what they perceive to be their abandonment, alienation and betrayal.

As Inspector Gadget says in the article linked to above "people these days act like this at the railway stations with the staff, at the taxi ranks after clubbing, with store detectives, to their housing officers, benefits staff and social workers." being on the receiving end of violence is not unique to the police.

Kevin will, I fear, realize his riotous aspirations sooner rather than later and that, in itself, is very worrying.

Originally Posted by punky

Which one?

It was an anti-Vietnam protest in 1968 and the picture was on every paper the following morning..I think it was either in Grosvenor Square or Leicester Square..I've never forgotten it.

[Mr Angry]

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

It was an anti-Vietnam protest in 1968 and the picture was on every paper the following morning..I think it was either in Grosvenor Square or Leicester Square..I've never forgotten it.

Anti-Vietnam does not necessarily = student.

This picture I suspect...

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Anti-Vietnam does not necessarily = student.

This picture I suspect...

It did in 1968 believe me..They were showing solidarity with the American students who were being drafted into the US forces.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

Anti-Vietnam does not necessarily = student.

This picture I suspect...

Can't rep you but cheers dude.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by punky

Can't rep you but cheers dude.

Mr. A beat me to it...