Why Do Certain Groups Find It Necessary To Oppose These Groups, Why Don't They Just Let Them Have Their Protest And Go Away?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/antiislamic-group-pegida-not-welcome-in-newcastle-say-campaigners-10076308.html

/// The group says it merely opposes radical Islam and hate preachers and believes Muslims need to adapt to our way of life in the west, instead of us adapting to them, /// now who could disagree with that?

/// Nadia Iftkhar, said the people who live in Newcastle, find their ideology “poisonous and hateful” and they were neither “wanted nor welcome”, how can she be speaking for the whole of Newcastle? ///

/// Dipu Ahad, a Newcastle councillor, organised the Newcastle Unites counter demonstration and said people are travelling from as far south as Devon and as north as Inverness to attend. ///

[hc4361]

Same with the EDL and the anti-fascists, anti-racists. Can't have one without the other.

[Zacs-Master]

I suspect because they realise we live in a democracy and therefore have the right to free speech.

[bednobs]

the problem i of course, if other "certain groups" (eg muslims) were marching etc, we would defend the right of certain "other groups" (eg EDL) to counter-protest

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// I suspect because they realise we live in a democracy and therefore have the right to free speech. ///

You've got that the wrong way round, it is counter demonstrators that are opposing 'free speech'.

[Zacs-Master]

Have they prevented them speaking?

[Noe-schitt]

I have come to believe in the hope it can cause trouble so as to get future demonstrations banned

[Svejk]

I thought the BBC wasn't allowed to advertise, yet they were touting for anti-Pegida protestors this morning.

[mikey4444]

Pergida have encountered similar opposing demonstrations all over Germany against their plainly racist program. So why should we expect anything different when they come to our country ?

I guess it is what democracy is all about aog......letting people voice their views. Everybody has the right to express their views, or would you prefer that the right to debate is stifled ?

[ichkeria]

As long as there is no threat to public order I can't see the problem with counter demos.
Freedom of speech and all that...

[agchristie]

///Superintendent Laura Young said they have been assured by both organisations that it will be a peaceful demonstration///

Hmmm, not factoring in any Toon fans then passing through who may put a spoke in?

[IggyB]

I do find counter demos slightly counter productive though, they tend to raise the profile of the original demo and ensure the views they actually oppose are broadcast to a wider audience. They also seem to attract poor behaviour which reflects badly on the counter argument...

But that's free speech, not always pretty but would it

[andy-hughes]

AOG - "Why Do Certain Groups Find It Necessary To Oppose These Groups, Why Don't They Just Let Them Have Their Protest And Go Away?"

I believe you adopt that position because you are well-known as someone who has issues with what is perceived the 'spread of militant Islam' in the UK, so their view appears to chime with your own.

Would you be quite so sanguine if the protest was in favour of a rise in the Nazi party?
The right for people to counter-demonstrate is enshrined in the same freedom of speech that allows the demonstration in the first place – you cannot allow one and not the other

[agchristie]

Oh dear...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2973413/Violent-clashes-break-anti-Islam-march-Newcastle-city-centre-hundreds-far-right-protesters-met-MP-George-Galloway-leading-rival-demonstration.html

[Zacs-Master]

Strange how the OP,has not commented further.

[agchristie]

The strength and numbers of the 'opposition' underlined the depth of feeling against Pegida for sure.

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

/// Strange how the OP,has not commented further. ///

I have much better things to do than to be still posting at 15 minutes past midnight, some lead such a sad life, perhaps that is why it shows in their comments?

[anotheoldgit]

Interesting 2,000-strong counter-protest led by Respect MP George Galloway (now there's a surprise) against only 400 far-right anti-Islam protesters, and yet there were 5 arrested all from the same group, (yes you've guessed correctly) from the far right group, but then some of their opponents were from our peaceful Muslims, so it stands to reason.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/02/28/262D017F00000578-2973413-image-m-12_1425146146353.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/02/28/262CA7B700000578-0-image-m-78_1425134434750.jpg

[Zacs-Master]

I'm sure you're trying to make some sort of point AOG but it seems to have become lost in the rant.

[THECORBYLOON]

Posting the back of midnight is no indication of having a sad life, have you not heard of shift-work?

[Peter Pedant]

// Would you be quite so sanguine if the protest was in favour of a rise in the Nazi party? // Andy H

Blimey Andie when I mention the Nazi party and their awful practices ( shooting prisoners on sight and so on ) in another thread, you demand I retract and apologise

do we feel a little impulse to apologise to dear dear AOG for doing something you are so quick to condemn in another ? ( the another would be me by the way )