They are deliberately waving banners calculated to get themselves arrested as members of a group the government has designated as a terrorist organisation. The idea is to get as many people as possible arrested, overloading the police and filling the cells to demonstrate the absurdity of the government position.
It's an interesting problem. Most societies have a certain capacity for civil disobedience.
Below that capacity protest can be visible, even disruptive, but society continues its necessary functions.
Beyond that capacity disruption is large enough to be damaging.
For example, I might accept a protest which makes me late for work, but not one which causes me to die in an ambulance which takes too long to reach a hospital.
On a police level I would not accept a protest which requires so much police resources that they are unable to prevent a terrorist attack.
8 comments:
Yes, it's getting siily, on both sides of the debate.
How's it getting silly on the activists' side?
They are deliberately waving banners calculated to get themselves arrested as members of a group the government has designated as a terrorist organisation. The idea is to get as many people as possible arrested, overloading the police and filling the cells to demonstrate the absurdity of the government position.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c051g2q5651o.amp
EM, thanks for your reply. But I see that as legal civil disobedience, and a good strategy at that. Do you not agree?
It's an interesting problem. Most societies have a certain capacity for civil disobedience.
Below that capacity protest can be visible, even disruptive, but society continues its necessary functions.
Beyond that capacity disruption is large enough to be damaging.
For example, I might accept a protest which makes me late for work, but not one which causes me to die in an ambulance which takes too long to reach a hospital.
On a police level I would not accept a protest which requires so much police resources that they are unable to prevent a terrorist attack.
EM, do you see these protests in England as now being disruptive to society and police services?
Also, what are the courts doing to those arrested? Do the charges hold up in court? If so, what kind of punishments are being handed out? Thanks.
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