Not in the public interest

**northernladuk** · 5 January 2022, 16:43

Why bother prosecuting people over a fecking statue of some slaver that lots of people wanted removed anyway?

Who says the people wanted it removed and just because they believe some want it removing it's not for them to take the task to hand and just do it?

I see what you are saying and kind of agree but the laws the law. Where is the boundary between what they did being acceptable and what isn't? Is it OK for every gang of 50+ people to pull anything down they fancy without fear of prosecution now?

I mean, I agree, it was a waste of public money to get this far but it just doesn't feel right. Look at what the guy said.

Appearing in the dock, he said: "Imagine having a Hitler statue in front of a Holocaust survivor - I believe they are similar.

"Having a statue of someone of that calibre in the middle of the city I believe is an insult, and I will continue to believe that whatever the outcome of this."

That's just utter bollocks. He believes it so does that mean he has the right to pull it down. His belief is highly questionable. And it's hardly insulting him. All four of them are white so it's just a platform for activism.

It's a balance between yes it shouldn't have been there and no one wanted it vs a gang of activists who aren't even really affected by it tearing it down because of some rather odd beliefs. If they've done it, does that mean we can all go round doing it? Fine line letting people off the letter of the law because their cause (in their minds) is just.

I do find it difficult to believe they couldn't be found guilty of 'damaging the Colston statue and plinth of a value unknown without lawful excuse' as it's there on video so a bit of a joke of a verdict but shouldn't really have got that far anyway.

**Gibbon** · 5 January 2022, 16:46

Originally posted by SueEllen View Post

Why bother prosecuting people over a fecking statue of some slaver that lots of people wanted removed anyway?

Because we live by law and lots != all or a majority. But you have some point as much more effort should be put into preventing slavery operating under our eyes. How many use the hand car washes, nail bars, massage parlours, how many eat vegetables from British Farms? Probably some of the same feckers who call for statues to be pulled down.

**SueEllen** · 5 January 2022, 16:53

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Who says the people wanted it removed and just because they believe some want it removing it's not for them to take the task to hand and just do it?

It was in the local press that there were calls to have it removed before it became a national story.

Then when it became a national story the local press did more polling - https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/b...e-glad-4217554

There is a good reason why white activists pulled it down with "unnamed others" just like the vast majority of extinction rebellion activists are white.

**d000hg** · 5 January 2022, 17:20

If lots of people want these things taken down, mount a proper campaign. If it doesn't gain traction, it's not popular.

**xoggoth** · 5 January 2022, 17:46

Even a majority in a poll in the Daily Express did not think a statue of a prominent slaver should be on display in a prominent place. However there is no excuse for damage to a historic monument.

**SueEllen** · 5 January 2022, 17:51

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

If lots of people want these things taken down, mount a proper campaign. If it doesn't gain traction, it's not popular.

It did gain traction.

The people who opposed the stature being ripped down had more clout with Bristol City Council.

BTW they renamed the music venue and the schools named after him.

**minestrone** · 5 January 2022, 18:03

Milo Ponsford.

Can you imagine the hilarity if they all got 200 hours unpaid community service.

Anyways, don't come screaming on here when Piers Corbyn or others manage to convince a few on a jury that there various anti vax crimes were morally justified.

**d000hg** · 5 January 2022, 18:03

The struggle for black rights was decades/centuries of pain and suffering and slow incremental progress fighting against and within the system. People lost their lives and their livelihoods for it, but a bunch of teenagers today can't comprehend the idea of something taking longer than a week to achieve so they just smash things.

**northernladuk** · 5 January 2022, 18:12

Originally posted by SueEllen View Post

It did gain traction.

The people who opposed the stature being ripped down had more clout with Bristol City Council.

BTW they renamed the music venue and the schools named after him.

Still isn't a reason to pull it down and don't expect the law applies to you. With the BLM matter wave, that thing in govmt looking in to historic monuments etc it would have come down at some point if there was a good reason. A bunch of young white activisits wouldn't understand the reasons not to though to be fair but either way, they just want they wanted and applied mob rule which we can't condone.

If they want to pull stuff down then fair enough, but take the punishment as a badge of pride for their activism.

It was in the local press that there were calls to have it removed before it became a national story.

Then when it became a national story the local press did more polling - https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/b...e-glad-4217554

There is a good reason why white activists pulled it down with "unnamed others" just like the vast majority of extinction rebellion activists are white.

I read in to those polls there was some imputus to pull it down but I don't see enough evidence that the town was up in arms and it was the right thing to do at all. I don't see that as a good reason for white activities to pull it down and not be brought to justice for it.

But, it's done now so is what it is. Nothing left but to Just move on to the next national outcry, whatever that may be.

Not in the public interest