Masked protesters block Port of Dover

I’m not sure why they felt the need to wear masks if it was peaceful.What I saw was that they were mostly youngish males but apart from the scary uniform they didn’t seem to be a particular threat. I would object strongly to the disruption of services with any protest including this one.

They are organised as I have said. Again what would you do about that?

I think you’re throwing in red herrings but missing the point Galaxy. People randomly self selecting to attend a publicly advertised march, and people all wearing the same, and turning up with no notification publicly in advance, at the same place to protest and cause disruption are two different beasts.

Depleted even 🤦‍♀️

Either you allow masks/ face coverings or you dont. I am not sure what I feel about legislating against it. It would mean the anti woman lot would be delpleted but sometimes there are larger principles than that.

I hope I was adequately able to address the point Galaxy.

Yes they were organised.

Galaxy

I imagine they were wanting to conceal identity as happens on the pro palestine marches and the anti women protests.

If you look at other marches, including the pro Palestine marches, they consist of people wearing a wide variety of outfits. A few people wear masks, but the majority don’t. The difference is that everybody today was wearing the same, including masks. That implies a much greater level of pre event planning and instruction, rather than being advertised to turn up at x venue at 10am, as most protest marches do.

Yes i am asking that seriously. I was frightened by the pro palestine marches and the trans protests, they had a right to protest whatever i may have thought of them.

Galaxy

Again are you wanting to say what colours people can wear on a protest.

Are you really asking that seriously? A uniform black dress code creates a menacing visual effect designed to frighten local communities and bystanders. Whoever is wearing it:

...and I am aware of course that some powered bike users do that, but that is actually used by youths of different cultures. However they are not on those bikes carrying swastikas.

It does have significance as opposed to say the point I made above wearing black by innocent Muslim women as is the tradition of their faith. and - across the Muslim world, sometimes other colours are worn as well as face coverings.

I imagine they were wanting to conceal identity as happens on the pro palestine marches and the anti women protests.

Galaxy

Again are you wanting to say what colours people can wear on a protest.

Nobody can dictate colours or face coverings at a protest but crowds turning up, all in black, wearing balaclavas, look pretty intimidating and am sure that is why this colour and face covering was chosen, of course it also means the police cannot spot any known villains/agitators in the crowd though they do have the power to insist individuals take off their face coverings, but hard to do when so many are wearing them.

Asking why all protesters were wearing the same is not saying what they should be wearing Galaxy, you are twisting the question.

So we should have different rules for the people you like. Thats not going to work is it. There were swastikas on the pro palestine marches if I remember rightly.

Perhaps one should consider whether the mask wearers were innocent Muslim women or swastika bearing hate mongers?

Again are you wanting to say what colours people can wear on a protest.

I cannot think of a protest where all the protestors turned up in black wearing balaclavas. This is definitely new. And would not like to see it repeated. Of course people are free to protest peacefully and without causing disruption, indeed many peaceful protests are organised by groups who will let the police know when they will be protesting, as with marches through cities, when roads might need to be blocked off. These protestors don’t appear to have told anyone, hence the disruption.

They didn't wear masks, but the recent violence in Belfast by UK flag waving bearers burning the homes of non white people was far afar more violent and nasty than any of the more left demonstrations alluded to above.

(BTW, I do not agree with the motorway blocking, and do not thing they should be included in lists above, and do not consider them "lefties" at all. Totally different from the Palestine demonstrations)

Are you saying you want to legislate on clothing? I am torn on the matter but certainly legislating on face coverings would be an interesting discussion.

Except consider, perhaps the Klu Klux Clan in the USA
White supremacists.

Trans activists wear masks all the time. Women facing them became quite accustomed to it. I assume they did it because they didnt want to be identified. Although who knows. I loathe masks but I am not sure what I would feel about legislation against them.

I cannot think of a single one, ever.

Galaxy

And again covering faces is common in protests, it is quite late to worry about it now.

Have there been other protests where all the protesters wore masks and the same anonymous clothing, presumably to avoid being identifiable, in the UK?

GrannyGravy13

I am in no way supporting this protest.

As far as I am aware it was not violent.

As far as I am aware there was no damage.

According to eyewitness accounts on SKY it was not just men, there were women there also.

One female car passenger was assisted by the protesters and shown the way to the toilets and her car waived through as she had children in the car.

I appreciate that this is not a popular protest on GN, but I was not a fan of the pro-Palestine marches nor the JSO supporters who shut down the QE2 bridge for several days. This caused people to miss funerals, hospital appointments and led to far more pollution emissions from cars whilst they were held up in traffic jams for hours.

We either have the right to protest for all, or for none. I know which option I prefer.

Well said. No violence. No arrests. I dislike face coverings of all types but there are some double standards going on here.

The JSO protests were far lengthier and were happening week after week and barely a mention of all the masks.

And again covering faces is common in protests, it is quite late to worry about it now.