Students Rioting in London.

[Sparkle]

I don't know if it was a student or not, its merely my personal opinion that he probably isn't. Just because I've never known students to behave in such a threatening manner, doesn't mean they aren't any. Who knows, could've been students acting like gangstas for all anyone can (yet) say with 100% certainty.

Either way, I think the fact that a citizens arrest was attempted does carry some weight as to the intentions of the majority of protestors.

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Masque

I disagree totally with the fees that students are being charged and until I see all of the 650 mps in parliament put their hands in their own pockets to pay back the fees they should have been charged then I will always believe that it is a charade.

Missed this bit, I think I'd forgotten your stance in this thread, it must have been quite a while since I've posted in this thread.
Fair enough, I had thought/assumed you were in favour of the fees.
I guess where we differ, is in how to go about getting the message across.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, that although I'm against violence, I can't help but watch in awe as a few hundred anarchists (spread out over 4 demos) achieve what hundreds of peaceful demonstrations back in 1997 failed to. All we managed after all those protests back then was 4 seconds on the 6 o'clock news (once, that I can recall).
Unfortunately, the student plight has received much bad publicity as a result of the excessive violence.
However, I wouldn't like to see the police using water cannon or rubber bullets as I fear the innocent protesters would be the ones to suffer rather than a violent minority.

[Jimmy-J]

Boy held...

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested over the alleged throwing of a petrol bomb at a protest against tuition fee increases in central London.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12196009

[Sparkle]

Wow, that was quick..

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Missed this bit, I think I'd forgotten your stance in this thread, it must have been quite a while since I've posted in this thread.
Fair enough, I had thought/assumed you were in favour of the fees.
I guess where we differ, is in how to go about getting the message across.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, that although I'm against violence, I can't help but watch in awe as a few hundred anarchists (spread out over 4 demos) achieve what hundreds of peaceful demonstrations back in 1997 failed to. All we managed after all those protests back then was 4 seconds on the 6 o'clock news (once, that I can recall).
Unfortunately, the student plight has received much bad publicity as a result of the excessive violence.
However, I wouldn't like to see the police using water cannon or rubber bullets as I fear the innocent protesters would be the ones to suffer rather than a violent minority.

My stance is purely on where the protests have been held nothing more and I feel that area should protected regardless of who is the incumbent government.

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Hugh
How can you (or they) tell if it a student or a gang member?

Originally Posted by TheNorm

Because it says so at the top of the page:

lol, actually I only just now noticed that comment in the title ! At least someone agrees with me !

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Missed this bit, I think I'd forgotten your stance in this thread, it must have been quite a while since I've posted in this thread.
Fair enough, I had thought/assumed you were in favour of the fees.
I guess where we differ, is in how to go about getting the message across.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, that although I'm against violence, I can't help but watch in awe as a few hundred anarchists (spread out over 4 demos) achieve what hundreds of peaceful demonstrations back in 1997 failed to. All we managed after all those protests back then was 4 seconds on the 6 o'clock news (once, that I can recall).
Unfortunately, the student plight has received much bad publicity as a result of the excessive violence.
However, I wouldn't like to see the police using water cannon or rubber bullets as I fear the innocent protesters would be the ones to suffer rather than a violent minority.

You know I did agree with that view point, that no one listened to peaceful protest and it would achieve nothing, like the stop the war marches etc but at the time of the riots the government did a u turn on a policy based soley on a petition and a bit of lobbying, think it was some thing to do with school sports so it can be done.

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Masque

My stance is purely on where the protests have been held nothing more and I feel that area should protected regardless of who is the incumbent government.

Well yes, even I agree with that. Protesters yards away from government isn't really a good idea. Just seems like its asking for trouble.
Perhaps they could direct the protests to some part of London's East end where noone really minds if it gets destroyed?
Sounds better to me than bringing out the water cannon or smashing up the treasury.

[papa smurf]

Student arrested as dozens of protesters charge David Cameron's car and chant ‘Tory scum’

David Cameron was at the centre of another student protest today when his motorcade was chased by angry demonstrators.
One student was arrested when a group of up to 40 waited for the Prime Minister and chanted 'Tory ****' as he left a science education centre in Newcastle.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1B2EqF6kR

Originally Posted by Product 13

Boy held...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12196009

Good.

They really need to round up all of the trouble makers ala the ones swinging of the cenotaph etc.

Make an example of them.

Then bring in the water cannons for those that want to wreak havoc on the streets in the future and cause countless amounts of damage.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

Then bring in the water cannons for those that want to wreak havoc on the streets in the future and cause countless amounts of damage.

They might do that instead of kettling

[Sparkle]

Admittedly, the evening news would be much more interesting if they do bring in water cannon. Who knows, you might even see me getting washed down Reagent Street
I hope they hold out 'till summer time, then maybe bring in the water cannon.

Interesting, as in "Tunisia interesting"?

The problem is that it would appear that a small section of the protestors are planning for escalation (and in some cases hoping to provoke it), in the hope that this will gain sympathy for them, and enhance negative feelings towards the police and government.

I strongly support the right to protest, but am strongly against the violence and damage caused by those looking to escalate things (whilst I can sympathise with the frustrations felt, I can have the same frustrations against some of my neighbours regarding their behaviours, but it doesn't give me the right to throw a brick through their windows or key their cars).

[Sparkle]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Interesting, as in "Tunisia interesting"?

The problem is that it would appear that a small section of the protestors are planning for escalation (and in some cases hoping to provoke it), in the hope that this will gain sympathy for them, and enhance negative feelings towards the police and government.

I strongly support the right to protest, but am strongly against the violence and damage caused by those looking to escalate things (whilst I can sympathise with the frustrations felt, I can have the same frustrations against some of my neighbours regarding their behaviours, but it doesn't give me the right to throw a brick through their windows or key their cars).

I'd describe the events in Tunisia as more horrifying than interesting. However, water cannon on British streets might serve to garner further sympathy for the cause (possibly the real reason why they haven't yet been used). However, if the public are content with the government and their decisions in recent years, then its a lost cause as far as I'm concerned. The students and the unions can't do it alone.

It amazes me how perceptions can change from one person to the next.
One person can watch footage of the recent protests, and just see reckless vandals that they may associate with local Buckfast wielding riff raff.
The next person will watch the same footage, and think - hey maybe now the government might actually start to take notice ?
I find myself in the latter category.

I see some parallels with the incident which took place at Kent State university during the Vietnam war protests in 1970. For years whilst growing up, I could never understand how the national guardsman could fire live rounds into the crowds of student protesters, killing 4 of them. Afterall, they were children, the next generation, right?
I recall seeing the interviews of the national guardsmen on a documentary, and I was quite sickened by the way they viewed the students, such hate and indignation in their descriptions. I thought "Wow, what a screwed up society it was back then.". I must have assumed that we'd moved on since those days.

However, since the November protests, I see history repeating all over. There seems to be much hate directed towards the students, for one reason or another - and I'm not convinced its strictly to do with the recent violence either.
Noone's been shot yet, but I've read various comments to the effect that the police should just open fire with live rounds. I'd hate to think we've not learned a darned thing in the last 40 years.

When a group of muslims march on our streets shouting death to us all, we do nothing, in fact we can't even deport the Abu-Hamza "hook-cleric". Despite all his hate rhetoric, he's still here. The government can tax us into oblivion and we do nothing. It just goes on and on.
But yet when our younger generation take to the streets to try to make a better future for our country (whether they've got it right or wrong), so many are shouting for their blood.
Sad times

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by Sparkle

...I see some parallels with the incident which took place at Kent State university ...

You cannot be serious.

Many of the National Guardsmen to whom you refer had friends and brothers serving in Vietnam, some of whom had been killed or injured. To be told by a bunch of students that their sacrifice was worthless would have been difficult for many.

This bears no resemblance to protests concerning student fees. If anything, many of the police on duty who are parents will have some sympathy with the issue, as they don't relish the thought of forking out more money for their kids education.