Today's Student protest.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....nt-demonstration.html

In view of the anarchy that took place during the last student protest, should the Home Secretary have banned this protest?

[jackthehat]

No.

[anotheoldgit]

jackthehat

Such a well thought out and constructive argument as usual.

[DTCwordfan]

No - People have a right to protest. Logic does not dictate that there would be trouble at this protest, just because it happened at the last. Do you really want effectively a Dictatorship in this country?

[DTCwordfan]

I thought Jack's answer was to the point and unequivocally clear.

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

/// No - People have a right to protest. ///

So you were against the recent ban imposed on the EDL, or are you just selective in your argument?

/// Logic does not dictate that there would be trouble at this protest, just because it happened at the last. ///

I disagree, I think that it is pretty sound logic, at least the police also seem to think so, why else do you think they are deploying 4,000 police officers?

Perhaps you think that all this is just a waste of cash and resources also?

[naomi24]

No, but I sincerely hope it will not deteriorate into what happened the last time.

[jake-the-peg]

I'm sure the Home secretary did ban the protest

However doubtlessly some civil servant simply disobeyed her instructions

[rojash]

"So you were against the recent ban imposed on the EDL, or are you just selective in your argument? "

There have been many student protests over the years, occasionally, one gets out of hand.

There have been many EDL marches over recent times, all of which get out of hand, and (by most accounts) are intended to do just that.

[anotheoldgit]

rojash

Yes but on a one to one basis which protests costs the most in damage done, police resources involved, and arrests taken place?

In view of this, why then was the EDL march banned, and yet knowing the trouble caused by the last students march, it is allowed to go ahead.

Ban one, ban them all, allow one, allow all others, isn't that the democratic way?

Double standards spring to mind.

[Philtaz]

They've dealt with the problems in Trafalgar Square quite swiftly but it looks like it's going to be a long night in London.

Potential problems once it goes dark I feel.

[Zeuhl]

<<which protests costs the most in damage done>>

Related to the number of participants the EDL are the most expensive.

<<Ban one, ban them all, allow one, allow all others>>

All what? Bit of a generalisation there. All protests? without any judgement or intelligent selection?

Is it? .....

Ban all protests that involve a great many of our fellow citizens largely intent on peaceful protest but with elements that might get out of hand?

or

Ban all protests by small groups of highly motivated minority interest parties with a primary objective of causing trouble?

I think there could well be a case for allowing the first and banning the second.

[emmie]

there are so many demonstrations here, can't tell one from the other. You can't ban them, mores the pity. Democratic rights and all that

[tonywiltshire]

Freedom of speech and the right to protest should be for all not just the left wing.

[emmie]

if i go down there and get on my soapbox and ask them to go away, do you think they will listen, after all it's my democratic right to protest about the protesters, what can go wrong.

[jake-the-peg]

They are Tony

Don't you remember the CountrySide Alliance protestss about foxhunting?

[Zeuhl]

<<what can go wrong>>

I think the students might be rude and laugh at you - so disrespectful. Not like when i was a student in the 70s - we never did anything naughty then (cough)