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I am so sad and angry right now watching and reading about the london riots!! I have friends and family in london and some of them are terrified to go out since the violence is spreading. What the heck is wrong with people??
@bells: Seriously, I can't believe it. I have friends and family all over the UK, especially London, and what I'm hearing from them is unreal - one friend had the police come to her door and instruct her to lock all her doors and windows, set the alarm and turn off the lights. It's unreal. The police force is totally unprepared for something like this, I feel for the people who are doing their best to control the violence. There are videos of injured people being attacked and robbed - WHO DOES THAT?! What bothers me most is that it's just opportunistic violence and looting. There's no sense of a unified grievance or even any purpose, it's just mindless thuggery. The people involved disgust me. /rant.
Sorry. Yes, in answer to your question, I am following them!
I've been following them some. After the two riots here in the US in July, and now these, I just don't understand it. What purpose does it serve at all? I hate assholes.
I've been folowing them, the reasons behind it are completely ridiculous. I really hope that innocent people do not get hurt, and that businesses do not go bankrupt.
I just learned about it yesterday. I am so busy I hardly look at the news. Well and plus the news is always so sad and depressing I just cant watch it sometimes. But yeah I was shocked when I found out. They say it started when a protest went bad. After people in a protest turn violent, I have no respect for them. They are trying to protest and violence is their answer??? Yeah I dont think people will listen and /or respect u now.
Young people are insane!!!! And Im talking about young people everywhere.
Did u hear about the attacks at our Wisconsin State Fair?? There was fighting amoung young black teens in the fair. Then they were all kicked out and they started attacking white people as they were leaving the state fair!!! Im not joking.
I used to be a teen but I never in a million years would have attacked people or rioted!!!!!!
@Earlybride:There was a peaceful protest in North London on Saturday after a young guy was shot and killed by police as they were trying to arrest him. That incident is under investigation now, but the protest in Tottenham was legit. Then some people looking for a fight basically hijacked it and it's spread. I bet if you asked most of the people looting they wouldn't even know his name.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/2011/aug/09/london-riots-day-three-roundup
I don't think protesting ever gets what people want in the end. In this day and age it always leads to trouble.
@Oneeleven: I think in some cases it can at least draw attention to an issue - we had a thing over here with old people protesting medical card limitations that did actually get some changes, but on the whole I'm with you. Having said that, the original protest, which was peaceful, has resulted in an internal police investigation into the incident with the young guy being shot, so that's good. Thing is, besides that one pocket of peaceful protest, none of the rest of it has anything to do with protesting. It's just rioting.
I agree with you but in this day and age, protesting often leads to rioting. I just don't think you can often have one without the other. Well, that is... if the protest is over something that people care about and gets enough 'attention'.
This is why even peaceful protests are being handled with much more force than they used to.
And no, you're right, not a single one of those scum-sucking, douchebag rioters have a CLUE what they are "protesting" over or how this all started.
@Oneeleven:I certainly think the risk of rioting is very high. Although when the people who are peacefully protesting are a) lovely old people with zimmerframes moving very slowly, or b) well-heeled students with the attention spans of goldfish, you're alright I think 
Those are the only two protests I've seen not turn even a little bit nasty. Also, even though protesting is a very risky business, I think citizens should have the right to protest. I think it's an important part of the democratic process, having the right to object to something, and we just need to be prepared to deal with that and shut down any misbehaviour asap. It's a tough one to call, I think - what are your thoughts?
People basically hijacked the protest and have turned it into a free for all. They are burning peoples private businesses, looting from stores, and yes innocent people are getting hurt.
People going crazy looting stores
This lady had to jump out of her apartment window due to one of many fires started by the rioters
This furniture store was burnt to the ground and its been there for over 140 years
3 generations: the owners of the furniture store
And below, before and after pictures of popular carpet store
It's terrifying. A lot of my friends were stuck in it last night and if I'd have been later home from work I'd have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Really scary.
FI and I live in London, and it's bad. Thankfully, our area is safe, but areas all around us are a total mess. Scary stuff, and sad too. London's youth can be pretty scary--ever ridden on a bus with a pack of them before?? In that respect, I can't say the rioting has taken me completely off-guard.
Funny, this all supposedly started over a gunshot but now all I want to do is take up target practice on these parasites
I've heard that some of the original looting focused on clothing and shoes. Does anyone know (since this began in a working-class neighborhood) whether that was for survival or are we talking someone wanted a new pair of sketchers?
This is what I personally believe our world is turning into today. There is a huge separation in wealth and when that happens we find that there is an increase in tension between police and the poor, as well as protesting/rioting. People get scared and angry, and when they do they turn primal.
It is very sad, but I don't believe we can just outlaw protesting. We have to find a way to keep people from looting and destroying property.
I can't believe the carnage. So many people will be out of work, and their businesses and homes destroyed. Those pictures are heart breaking.
I think you have the right idea. I don't think it is for survival. Like come on no one needs to loot for survival. None of thse looters are starving here. However, the teens in the UK have had it rough for a while now. There aren't many programs to get them integrated into the workforce, nor are there many jobs, That leaves the teens a) bored b) broke c) watching the rich people flaunt their stuff with a green eye.
This by no means, gives them a right to do these terrible things, but I think thats a few reasons on whay it was brought on to begin with. Like a PP said, it isn't completely surprising, knowing how the situation there was to begin with.
And as for it all starting because of the one person shot, is bs. I'm sorry. But people get hurt everyday, innocent people, and the victims of these crimes are not rioting. Its just a lame excuse of a variety of reasons.
mindless .i dont get it.......there is talk that it will be Lincoln tonight, my daughter lives there.....i hope it doesnt happen. but its been in liverpool and bristol too.
they are using the shooting of that boy as an excuse to loot.
i say, if they wanna fight so badly........pack them all off to Afghanistan and let them fill their boots, then our boys can come home......job done.
i also think they should use water cannons!
I've been following the story and the truth hurts! Rioting and protesting has been around forever, but it seems as though in the last year many countries have used it to a very serious extent and accomplished things. People are very desperate to be heard and can be thoughtless and ruthless!
I'm waiting for the day people in the U.S crack and go insane on the streets, I don't mean isolated, I mean unified hardcore all over.
FI and I just signed on our apartment in London.
Thankfully he's here in the US with me this week, but we are keeping a close eye on the riots and where they are. So far they are not near our apartment but it pretty scary.
Sadly what you predict is not all that far off I do not think.
I somehow totally missed all of this and the first I heard of it was yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, last night was a catch-up wedding planning night so I'm gonna be spending my lunch reading about this.
I am really out of the loop! Can someone please tell me WHY they are rioting? I have read about the riots but no reason has been listed on what I have read?
a boy got shot by police.......he was a known criminal and he shot at the police first. they shot him dead. then there was a peaceful protest about that, then it turned to riots and looting.
now its in nearly every city and looting and rioting is rife, and the initial cause is forgotten.
they are scum of thye earth.......
I am watching BBC news online, and one guy was talking about how people are justified because they've been treated as unequals, blah blah blah.
How is this supposed to show ANYONE you are worthy of respect? Honestly, you're feeding the negative images you're fighting against.
And the family of the man who was shot is trying to tell these people to stop but I think it's so far gone..
THis is not for survival by any means some of the looters are stealing HD televisions, and if you see how they are dressed they are wearing expensive sneakers and designer clothing and tweeting from their blackberries and iphones. SOme of them tweeted pics of themselves with their loot! People have just hijacked the protest and are using the police shooting as an excuse to wreck havoc. SOme of my friends are scared to go outside and are stuck indoors.
Look at what they did to this man. totally heartless
@strawberryavalanche: I agree.
There is an underlying desperation at work here. The BBC ran a story this AM and everyone quoted, all the residents of that area, were saying that no one has jobs and they are all very angry. This is how it is erupting into the public eye. Throughout history riots have typically come from a large population of young people without jobs and with no money.
I have been totally out of the loop and didn't hear about it until this morning. This is just so terrible. Innocent people are suffering the consequences of people's senseless violence.
Cry me a river.
People have such a sense of entitlement these days.
I'm broke and can't find work, rather than do something constructive or helpful about it, I'm going to go spray paint then kick in the windows of a store and then burn a persons home down. Ya really effective.
Or more like, read Bells post right above yours. They hardly sound poor actually.
@bells: i watched that video earlier. Completely disgusting.
I understand people having nothing and protesting and demonstrating, but that's different from looting and destroying and burning everything around you, especially when the people around you are no better off than you. That accomplishes nothing.
had to walk home past riots late last night, as transportation cancelled, it was so scary, and all night could hear sirens and stuff happening outside, a lot of it happened at the end of my street. it is heartbreaking to see my community this morning, it is a mess. All because some kids use a death as an excuse to steal from and burn down businesses and cars. It does make me so sad that this is the world i hope to raise children in but on the plus side, i will ensure they have hobbies, do well at school, have life goals and have respect for others! What saddens me is the horrific famine happening in Ethiopia with people dying from lack of food and water, and these yobs are complaining about 'rich' people and the police. they don't know how lucky there are!! they are stealing shoes, phones and tvs, not food - nothing that they need! we have food, shelter and educational opportunities, and other people in the world have NOTHING! Urgh!!!! rant over :/
I have been following it closely, I have to go to london tomorrow for my medical for my US visa. It is in the west end but is near oxford circus and people keep talking about stuff going down there too.
Hope all the bees are safe!
@Oneeleven: Not saying its right--it is completely despicable--and of COURSE it doesn't do anything constructive. Neither does yelling at the guy in front of you when you're stuck in traffic, but people still do it. I'm just pointing out a fact--historically, riots come from poor angry people.
Also, credit cards will buy you anything. Just cause they have nice shoes doesn't mean they're rich.
I listened to an interesting interview this morning on NPR with the MP from Tottenham: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/10/139345515/british-mp-remembers-riots-nearly-30-years-ago
I have been following this and it absolutely breaks my heart. I sadly agree with @Eva Peron:.
@londongal: Please stay safe. I'm thinking of you.
uhhh I heard about this but was not following it until I saw this thread. Going to the news website, holy crap this is so scary!
Absolutley heartbreaking... Every article I read about it I get goosebumps.
I'm so disturbed by these riots. Where are these kids' parents?! I read an article today about how a building that survived the Depression and both World Wars was burned down. It was in the family for FIVE generations and now it's gone. It's heartbreaking that people have absolutely no concern for their fellow man. I understand that they're upset, but seriously. Do they think anyone will take them seriously now that they're burning down buildings and looting stores?
I'm currently in London for a three-month magazine internship, and myself and the friend I'm staying with have been glued to the TV news. The worst riots haven't been near us and luckily there aren't any near where I'm working, but I have a friend who was evacuated from where she's working for her internship.
These people are just wild animals who need locking up. It's got nothing to do with a protest, it's just carnage. They've even spread to different cities across the country- they've been wrecking Manchester, about twenty minutes from where I love, and I go shopping there all the time. I love the place :( very sad.
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