Political Protest

I have always had an interest in Political protest and listening to the news last night I found out it was 25 years since the Miners' strikes in the UK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984%E2%80%931985) . We have a long tradition of protest in this country (especially under Tory Governments) and the Government overreacting.
For example:
Peterloo Massacre 1819
Black Friday 1910
Grosvenor Square 1968
Bloody Sunday or the Derry Shootings 1971
Miners Strike 1984
Poll Tax Riots 1990
G8 Protests 2009

In my opinion Political protest is the most important way of the people making a point against the government. Even if the protests become violent I am usually still on the protesters' side. Sometimes a little Anarchism is just what is needed to get some justice. This is bascially an open discussion on Political Protest.

The video below is set to the Internationale in English but the reason I've put it in is because it shows images from the Poll Tax riots (at the time of a Tory Government). The Poll tax upset a lot of people. Millions refused to pay (including a few MPs) and protests began peacefully but the Police responded on horse back and violently. So the crowds retaliated. They fought back then started smashing chain shops and wine bars etc, symbols of Capitalism and the upper classes. Sports cars were burned while cheaper cars right next to them were left untouched.

And the point here?.............

The Socialists are assholes?

I don't see your point? The Capitalists steal money from the poor, the socialists protest this and the capitalists run them down with horses.

How do capitalists steal money from the poor? By having too high of prices? Oh yeah that's a reason to start a riot, no what you do is you confront the person and say you don't like their prices, not simply start a riot. Also, I agree that's no reason to run them down with horses, but the socialists shouldn't have started a riot, so they are at fault as well.

It was the poll tax in this country I was referring to. It taxed people with a head the same amount as everyone else which is a larger percentage of the income of the poor. Oh and the government started it. It was a peaceful protest until the police rode through the crowd beating people with batons. Thatcher's government didn't do much listening to the people when they complained, she just told them to shut up and did what she liked. (She was out of power in a number of months after the poll tax riots)

Wilhelm Tuscini wrote:How do capitalists steal money from the poor? By having too high of prices? Oh yeah that's a reason to start a riot, no what you do is you confront the person and say you don't like their prices, not simply start a riot. Also, I agree that's no reason to run them down with horses, but the socialists shouldn't have started a riot, so they are at fault as well.

People are allowed to protest!!! Freedom of speech mofo!!! That is taking away a simple human liberty. Is there not some law they're braking? Hm?

New Roosevelt wrote:

Wilhelm Tuscini wrote:How do capitalists steal money from the poor? By having too high of prices? Oh yeah that's a reason to start a riot, no what you do is you confront the person and say you don't like their prices, not simply start a riot. Also, I agree that's no reason to run them down with horses, but the socialists shouldn't have started a riot, so they are at fault as well.

People are allowed to protest!!! Freedom of speech mofo!!! That is taking away a simple human liberty. Is there not some law they're braking? Hm?

You should really learn to read before you bash me, I said RIOT. Which is DIFFERENT from a protest.

Ah but who turns a protest into a riot? Usually its the government forces.

Gracania wrote:Ah but who turns a protest into a riot? Usually its the government forces.

True, but not always.