I support the BLM protests in UK but I didn't attend any. As many people have said online, there are causes that people believe are worth risking lives for so I can see why some people might think these protests are necessary even during a pandemic. I also read that many of the protesters were wearing masks.
It is a shame about the minority that start violence on both sides - police and protesters - but I don't think the violence detracts from the Black Lives Matter too message. I read that a WPC fell from her horse after crashing into a traffic light while charging protesters. There seems to be some suggestions that someone threw something at the horse to spook it but have not seen any evidence to confirm that this happened.
Can't say I care that much about statues being torn down - I used to think it was silly to remove the history - but have changed my mind on that after seeing the level of hurt felt by people who are constantly being reminded about these historic injustices by seeing these statues. Not sure where to draw the line though. In Churchill's case - maybe a sign next to the statue to point out his racist views while also acknowledging his powerful and successful leadership of Britain to help defeat the Nazis, which benefited everyone.
Not really sure how to reverse so many years of racial inequality in some communities that has led to these situations so am expecting this to be an ongoing battle for black lives to matter too. I'm privileged as my family and community prioritised education so my parents were professionals and we did not go on holiday for most of my childhood to afford good schools. At the same time lack of parental supervision while my parents were working (my dad was abroad a lot) led to me engaging in some risk-taking behaviour. So not sure what the answer is.
There isn't any actual answer of course - as always there will be a mixture of answers, some taking us forward and we can only hope they will be in the majority.
One of the callers last night (can't remember if it was to Stephen Nolan or Jim davis) was an articulate positive young black man, on his way home from work. His main point too was about education. Instead of holding a grudge against society, he saw, valued and used the education he had, moved to college in a different part of London, came into contact with a wider circle of people and knew that that was the way ahead for him. He was asked what his job was and he said that he had his own Company, and oh, that he worked on the Underground. He lives in Aylesbury so although that is some way out of London, the lines reach out that far if I remember correctly. He now has a good home and three small children, so I presume a wife too! He said his father was 'a preacher man' so that would have meant he had a family who already valued education.
