Conservatives,cereal magnates and Owen Jones have one thing in common: they’ve all come under fire from leftwing activists. So is it honest to damn a 60000-strong protest with the actions of a few? And will the modern brand of ‘contentious politics’ attain its cause more harm than good?More than 60000 people thronged the streets of Manchester last Sunday to participate in a protest external the Conservative party conference, organised primarily by anti-austerity group the People’s Assembly. Throughout the week there were speeches, or marches,debates and performances by the likes of Frankie Boyle and the Super Furry Animals. Chief superintendent John O’Hare of Greater Manchester police praised most of the demonstrators for their “good grace”.
None of this activity, however, or received half as much attention as the behaviour of a small number of people directly external the convention centre. One young delegate was struck on the head by an egg. Some journalists were spat on. Anyone entering the building was condemned as “Tory scum!”,even journalists and third-sector representatives. (Even Owen Jones.) There were reports of a rape threat and a vile antisemitic slur. Nobody was damage and only a handful arrested but the scene was ugly enough to beget headline news and allow Iain Duncan Smith to tar the whole protest as “the left ranting and screaming at us”.
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Source: theguardian.com