The combined Maccabi thread - now with are you going? poll

[Dave P]

So why the masks?

The only reason I can think of is, in this day and age, so many photos and videos will be taken of any protests, not to mention TV news crews who will undoubtably be there wanting a story.  The social media community will identify someone with a name, address and place of work within minutes.

[Somniloquism]

That is of course they don't still travel over having already booked flights & hotels . Now the police have little idea who & where they are if they do still travel

I doubt they will do much even if they still travelled. They like to hide in the anoniminity of a crowd of normal football fans, and also the host country just wants to get rid of those as fast as possible (over 40 of the ones arrested during the Legia visit were kicked out without charge). To have 40-50 travel over to cause trouble would be more then regular football violence and under normal governments, might be charged specifically. Of course we aren't under normal government rules when it comes to Israeli's though so no guarantee.

[PeterWithesShin]

How many other peaceful pro-Palestine protestors have been doxxed? You don't think they could be masking up and saying don't bring kids as they intend to be violent is a reason?

[Somniloquism]

Last week on the way home from work the bus went passed St Chads where a protest was happening with about 60-100 people. None of them were masked up at all or seemed worried someone would take pictures of their faces for any reason.

[Dave P]

I should of said it's the only 'non violent' reason I can think of.  Of course, asking participants to be masked up does insinuate a violent under tone.

[PeterWithesShin]

Fair enough. I agree, there aren't many reasons to mask up at a protest if you intend to do it lawfully.

[oldhill_avfc]

No protests should be allowed on the streets around the ground or private (Villa) property.  I assume the police could enforce this on the basis of blocking public highways or trespass.

We all know it’s going to be a shit show of pro-Palestine, anti Israel, pro Israel , far right etc kicking off. 

So keep them well away from areas where it can impact those who want to avoid it.  Perhaps they could do it on council land in Aston Park.  That way supporters can avoid it if they want by taking alternative routes.

[SamTheMouse]

I think a crowd of angry people gathering to complain vociferously about something is even more likely to descend into violence if they're all masked.

Unless they all wore Dora the Explorer masks. I could get on board with that.

[amfy]

I definitely think the masking adds a different dimension to the tone of the protest whether that was their intention or not.

The not bringing children or vulnerable adults is as easily because they are worried about it turning nasty as an intent to cause trouble themselves.

Mr Amfy and I went to anti racist demo in Lancaster a few years ago with our St George flag (which we'd had done for the euro nations in Porto) with (our clubs &) ''Black Lives Matter' across the middle of it. We were quite the curiosity for the others there, and they even commented on their social media post about the demo how wonderful it was that 'some football supporters' had joined them!

It was as if liking football and being a reasonable human being were something they didn't think ever happened!

The demonstrators might not be looking for trouble, but thinking it's a high possibility because they have quite a low opinion of football fans as a whole (ironically as judging whole groups by the actions of a few really shouldn't be a lefty/anti racist thing - but what makes sense eh?)

[algy]

The masking up thing is weird.  I mean, some or all of them might well be peaceful protesters.  There may be valid reasons for a peaceful protester to wear a mask .... But it's something you'd definitely do if you were intent on causing trouble*, and that's kind of the point.

Fully support people's right to protest on this.  I don't agree with Israeli teams being allowed in to UEFA competitions (or Eurovision, or anything else like that) when they're engaging in apartheid and committing acts of genocide.  I'm not on their side here.  But I think it's also sensible to not have stuff like that going on around Villa Park for this specific match.  It just screams of putting local residents at risk, which is to my mind not at all acceptable regardless of how just the cause is.


* I feel the same way about the flag stuff going on ... I don't for one minute think everyone who hangs union flags or national flags up is a racist ... but sure as fuck every racist from Penzance to Wick will be doing that with great enthusiasm.

[oldhill_avfc]

Genuine question - on this specific occasion what are they protesting about?

If it’s that MTA shouldn’t be allowed to play in Britain then they’d be better served where UEFA reps can see the protest.

If it’s against Israel and their actions then why not protest somewhere their team bud might see it.

Protesting at the back of the Holte, wearing masks, seems anti Villa supporters attending the match. It’s needlessly provocative.

[amfy]

I totally agree - why The Holte End? It makes no sense other than either looking for confrontation, or maybe having no idea and just thinking it’s the main stand so we’ll go there.