What is going on with this whole Birmingham, UK, thing?

@wigima5 (904)
United States
August 8, 2011 8:14pm CST
If you've been hearing stuff recently, there's a riot in Birmingham in the UK, there's rioters in the street and such. Supposedly its protesting some sort of taxation? Is this true? What is actually going on? And why is everyone supporting these rioters? I honestly don't get it, I probably don't have most of the story, which is why I don't feel any sympathy for them. Because right now it just seems as if there's a whole bunch of people who got upset over taxes and are now destroying things. I also heard that there's some guy who was shooting at police the other day, and the police shot and killed him, and ppl r upset b/c of that too. But,honestly, if he shot at police, he should've been shot. So.. 3 questions -What exactly is happening in Birmingham? -Why's it such a big deal? -Why are people supporting the rioters?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@koperty3 (1876)
9 Aug 11
It's not any form of protest. They demolished everything because no reason. I could see from my windows yesterday how buildings on Croydon are in flames. Many people lost homes and businesses. The police is just standing and doing nothing. My friend called police yesterday because some people were damaging the downstairs of their house and no one picked up the phone. Police do completely nothing. People stealing from the big shops and supermarkets and nothing is done. Yesterday shops on Clapham Junction were completely empty were as mob trashed and stole everything. Police knew about it and they just watched. I think the government and police chef should resign as soon as possible. They how no idea about anything. We all are furious as we are not protected. Our homes are not protected. Do you know why the houses were burning so long and the fire spreading so easily? Because they got not enough fire fighters cars. And within one year there will be Olympic Games here. It's just joke.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
9 Aug 11
maybe the police from london we not prepared for this.. i mean london is a peaceful place, maybe the police force got struck with the event and panic, well not knowing what to do and forgot about there mandate with is to keep citizen safe.. people tend to forget things when they panic, that maybe the case of your police force..
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Hmm.. that is bad. I was thinking they were doing something in response to this. :/ I know that part of why they were protesting is cause they didn't like the police. Then maybe the police should be replaced. But, still violence is not going to get anything solved.
@koperty3 (1876)
9 Aug 11
The police can not panic. They are paid for the job like soldiers. Police did not protect citizens. Some of them had to protect their families and businesses by them self. For for we need police if they are scared?
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
9 Aug 11
I live in the United Kingdom and I am not sure what is going on. One of my friends lives near London and his wife was stuck at her parents house due to fighting on the streets, buildings on fire and the transport having been canceled due to the trouble. The situation is similar in Birmingham, UK too. If the police are shot at they will shoot back and possibly kill. I don't think it is about taxes.
@wigima5 (904)
• United States
14 Aug 11
Yeaa... this is extreme to be about taxes. I think they're just using that as a cover up for their want to just destroy and act like thugs and show how "important and powerful" they are.
• Philippines
9 Aug 11
london is in turmoil, i have heard this from the news.. though i am not from london but i hear speculation that they are aligning the events to some terrorist groups..
@francesca5 (1344)
9 Aug 11
as a UK resident i can absolutely assure you that this rioting is absolutely nothing, let me repeat that again, absolutely nothing to do with people objecting to paying taxes. apart from that it is, as yet, a little too soon to be certain of the causes, though a few people have expressed a sense of anger about the police, and how then tend to concentrate on petty crime, often extremely petty crime, while ignoring more important ones. though whether that is the primary reason, i do not know. the main focus so far, however, has been london.
9 Aug 11
though the vandalism of those who object to paying taxes seems to be causing havoc elsewhere. as many of them seem to work for the IMF, in credit rating agencies, and belong to the tea party. and though they might not go out onto the street and set fire to buildings, their anti social selfish behaviour also causes a lot of problems.