Big railway stations tend to be large centrally located public spaces, and indoor too which is useful on a day like today!
Well, very often those arrested just say they were "protesting", as this man was. They omit they were blocking everyone, ignoring police commands to stop blocking everyone, ignoring being told they would be arrested if they didn't stop this, and all such. There's protests, and there's going along hoping to be arrested.
How would you suggest they achieve that? Physically restrain people? If so, how? What do you think the outcome would be?
@yorkie would you be able to address my previous questions as per post #636 when possible? Thanks.
In that case should nobody have opinions about everything, in case the media/social media make it look as if one was saying something else?
Exactly; criticism of Network Rail is unjustified and any claims they could somehow prevent it are completely inviable.
I had ignored this thread for a few days but posts relating to the station events led me to respond to those. I will address the earlier posts in due course.
Certainly at the ToC I work for they sent a message to all staff advising to allow customers to board next available service
I think you overestimate the reverence with which Remembrance Day is held by many in this country. There is enough to justify no protests in the vicinity of the Cenotaph, but not enough to justify no protests anywhere in a large city. It's perfectly acceptable for a protest to happen on the 11th imo.
The protests are scheduled for 1pm and nowhere near the cenotaph - I would say that there is a very small chance of disruption of remembrance day ceremonies.
The Republic spokesman had negotiated with the Met Police in advance that a small group of them would be holding placards in Trafalgar Square on the day, mingling with the crowd and disturbing nobody else, On the day, a sizeable contingent of police was waiting for them and arrested them on suspicion of carrying implements liable to be used for chaining themselves to objects, treating them like Just Stop Oil protestors. They were doing no such thing and the Met Commissioner later expressed 'regret' about the matter - needless to say, they were released without charge.
Ah, 'equivalence', a much over-used term on this forum. I was pointing out a contrast which has no connection with the meaning of equivalence.
The invasion started on a Saturday, which along with Sunday is when most protesting occurs. By the time the next weekend came along Israel had already driven Hamas back and was readying its own operations in Gaza. Also there may have been small anti-Hamas marches that are supportive of the citizens of both sides, but they don't fit the media narrative of grouping everybody into the tribal camps that gives it most clicks.
Totally agreed, I think the only feasible short-term solution at the moment would be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in exchange for all remaining hostages. I hope that this is negotiated as soon as possible as it's clear that the current situation cannot carry on without sufficient time and safety to evacuate civilians.
