'Hoodies' Demo in Inverness - stop scapegoating the kids

[frank ward]

Forwarded for your information

Stand up to Blair's phoney "Respect" Agenda - Stop the criminalisation of young people

Demo Sat 4th June, 2pm, outside Eastgate Centre, Inverness, Marks and Spencers entrance.

Many people will have noted Blair's attempts to focus on the agenda of "respect" in the wake of being rejected by 78% of the UK electorate. This is partially an atempt to woo back Tory voters who returned to their natural fold on May 5th, but also crucially, an attempt to divide the working class and distract attention from the attacks on pensions and the ever greater use of the private sector in the NHS and other public services.

Blair, disgustringly, returns to an old favourite theme of the British establishment when it wants to turn attention away from real issues - the moral "folk" panic. In the sixties it was mods and rockers, in the seventies punks, in the eighties "New Age Travellers", and in the early nineties, raves were attacked by the then Tory government using the Criminal Justice Bill - a bill which saw the predecessor of the SSP , Scottish Militant Labour, together with others, take to the streets in illegal demos across Scotland's cities (beginning in Inverness) which turned that discriminatory Tory law into a "dead letter."

Blair has latched onto the banning by an English shopping centre of young people wearing "hoodies" and caps. Apparently our youth should be good enough to oblige retailers by buying this gear, at enormously inflated prices, but they're not good enough to walk the same shopping centres wearing it! What young people choose to wear now marks them out as potential hoodlums or criminals.

The Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness, on the advice of Northern Constabulary, is the first in Scotland to go down this road - with what it calls a "Hats Off" policy. If the CCTV can't see your face you are a potential shoplifter and can be asked to leave. The youth of the Highlands are urged to keep buying inflated-price "chav" style gear - just don't wear it near our shops!

The SSY and SSP have no time for loutish, threatening or anti-social behaviour, but the real solutions to these problems where they exist lie in offering a real future to our young people - not exploiting them as workers, ripping them off as consumers, or scapegoating them "en bloc" for society's ills.

Highlands SSY are saying Bollocks to this nasty, discriminatory and hypocritical agenda. They are calling on citizens of all ages to join the "Robin Hoodies" at a protest this Saturday outside Marks and Sparks, Eastgate, Inverness at 2pm for a peaceful, non-violent expression of civil liberty and real "respect". I urge you to join them. BRING A HAT, COSTUME, MASK or HOOD as well as your own placard and poster and or message. All ages welcome.

Bring the message home to the Eastgate management and Blairite politicians everywhere

*
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL NOT BE TURNED INTO SCAPEGOATS
*
YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU WEAR
*
REAL JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. NO TO A LIFETIME OF EDUCATION AND CONSUMER DEBT.

Steve Arnott. Highlands and Islands Regional Organiser, Scottish Socialist Party.

[scotsboy]

[Drutt]

I think that's a marvellous idea. If I was anywhere near Inverness, I'd be going. I'd even buy a hoodie (though I think I'm a little old to get away with it).

I don't quite get society's desire to treat all teenagers as devil's spawn. Is it really that hard to remember what life was like at that age?

[doreenhedgehog]

I know what you are saying, but is it too much to ask for these people to have their hoods down when they are inside? They do tend to look dodgy, whether they are or not.

I also fully understand why old people feel intimidated walking down the street past groups of chavs with hoods up over their faces.

I must be getting old

[Caledonia]

You are requested to remove motorcycle helmets when going into banks, etc.

I see no problem with making the connection between intent to commit crime and the wearing of a hood indoors or in weather which would suggest it was not a practical need.

When I lived in Manchester I was parking my car one night. As I passed a group of teens I had passed already once I noticed they had all put their hoods up. I parked up, and as I was opening my car door I noticed one of them looking round the corner, so I drove back round the block, and lo and behold they were all crammed up against the corner, hoods up, ready on the attack.

Anyone who has lived in the big city will be familiar with this 'attack' mode.

You cannot outlaw the wearing of hoods per se, but I see no reason at all why shopping centres and similar establishments should allow the wearing of hoods on their premises.

[luskentyre]

What utter bollocks. There are two very good reasons for shopping centres discouraging the wearing of hoods and baseball caps.

1) Like it or not, some people find it intimidating.

2) CCTV cameras are unable to identify people who have their faces deliberately hidden. Remember that the next time someone is mugged or a child gets abducted.

It's not the government and shopping centers who are "criminalising" young people - they're doing it perfectly well themselves.

Haven't you lot got anything important to do? Who are the Highland SSY anyway?!

[golach]

There are two very good reasons for shopping centres discouraging the wearing of hoods and baseball caps.

1) Like it or not, some people find it intimidating.

2) CCTV cameras are unable to identify people who have their faces deliberately hidden. Remember that the next time someone is mugged or a child gets abducted.

It's not the government and shopping centers who are "criminalising" young people - they're doing it perfectly well themselves.

I with you all the way on this issue luskentyre, anyone who lives in a city will agree the this "chav" style is there to intimidate.
We see this in Edinburgh every day, and I dont see the SSP doing anything about it, Good on you Tony Blair, this is one of your more realistic ideas.

[squidge]

Im not too bothered by shopping centres saying you muct have your hood down uits their shopping centre and they can do what they want. However i do think Drutt is right we do demonise our young peoople and that should stop - they cant learn respect if they never receive it

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Does that mean Santa Claus will be getting banged up, too. He’s got the most recognisable hoodie going. Anyway, here’s some words to feast on from a few colleagues.


http://news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=515832005


http://news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=533142005


http://news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=527112005

[Rheghead]

However i do think Drutt is right we do demonise our young peoople and that should stop.

I have got to disagree with you there to a certain degree. It is the responsible public spirited adults and the have-a-go plucky pensioners that are the ones that have been demonised in society as the child abusers and the old interfering busybody cranks.
An adult can't even give one of these hoodies a well deserved clip around the ear without landing himself in court. We should take heed of our older generation's values a bit more before these hoodies breakdown the fabric of our society for good. Lets face it, in the olden days, there was more respect for our elders, so something needs to change. I know I will tickle the wrath of the usual caithness.org sappy guardians of political correctness, but I think I share the views of the majority.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

I know what you are saying, but is it too much to ask for these people to have their hoods down when they are inside? They do tend to look dodgy, whether they are or not.

I also fully understand why old people feel intimidated walking down the street past groups of chavs with hoods up over their faces.

I must be getting old

No, just prejudiced.

[Rheghead]

I also fully understand why old people feel intimidated walking down the street past groups of chavs with hoods up over their faces.

There are very few groups of people who wear hoods/masks that don't want to look intimidating. Those that do can include robbers, the IRA, KKK, Black September, islamic terrorists to name but a few. If the hoodies want respect then I suggest a change of clothing and a healthy attitude to society is needed, but I am guessing the 'respect' from mine and their perspective are two totally differing things.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

I also fully understand why old people feel intimidated walking down the street past groups of chavs with hoods up over their faces.

There are very few groups of people who wear hoods/masks that don't want to look intimidating. Those that do can include robbers, the IRA, KKK, Black September, islamic terrorists to name but a few. If the hoodies want respect then I suggest a change of clothing and a healthy attitude to society is needed, but I am guessing the 'respect' from mine and their perspective are two totally differing things.

I wear a hoodie because I like them. I also wear it over my head when out-and-about, including in shops. For me, it feels comfortable, and makes me feel quite secure. However, if someone politely asked me to remove it, I'd ask why first, then do so out of courtesy. Admittedly, though, the large % of hoodie wearers are neds, and for that, I think this is why this piece of apparel has come up as a topic of debate.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Sad, innit? We can't help it, but we still judge people by their looks, clothes, hair, and yes, even hooded tops.

[Drutt]

I know I will tickle the wrath of the usual caithness.org sappy guardians of political correctness, but I think I share the views of the majority.

Just because you're seldom able to defend your point of view without squealing "I was only playing Devil's Advocate" as a defence doesn't make it okay to start insulting those who might question your 'point of view' before anybody has actually said anything.

[Drutt]

Sad, innit? We can't help it, but we still judge people by their looks, clothes, hair, and yes, even hooded tops.

Very sad, yeah, but it seems we always have and always will. There seems to be no acknowledgement whatsoever that the majority of teenagers wearing hoodies are just going about their business, worrying about spots/exams/boyfriends/girlfriends and whether they're going to be accepted into uni so they can get the hell out of Caithness for a few years.

[Rheghead]

I know I will tickle the wrath of the usual caithness.org sappy guardians of political correctness, but I think I share the views of the majority.

Just because you're seldom able to defend your point of view without squealing "I was only playing Devil's Advocate" as a defence doesn't make it okay to start insulting those who might question your 'point of view' before anybody has actually said anything.

Surprise Surprise. You are seldom capable of putting your point across without the trailing 'smart alec' put-down and you rarely see a genuine opinion when you come across one without attacking the holder of it.

I guess I am now going to get the long quote/reply treatment...

[DrSzin]

Sad, innit? We can't help it, but we still judge people by their looks, clothes, hair, and yes, even hooded tops.

Indeed 'tis. I've been told that the hoodie below isn't all bad.

Despite the hood and his evil-looking eyes, he's just a bit misunderstood, and he'll eventually see the error of his ways. In the meantime, he'll get into fights and end up legless...

[champagnebaby]

I know I will tickle the wrath of the usual caithness.org sappy guardians of political correctness, but I think I share the views of the majority.

Just because you're seldom able to defend your point of view without squealing "I was only playing Devil's Advocate" as a defence doesn't make it okay to start insulting those who might question your 'point of view' before anybody has actually said anything.

Surprise Surprise. You are seldom capable of putting your point across without the trailing 'smart alec' put-down and you rarely see a genuine opinion when you come across one without attacking the holder of it.

I guess I am now going to get the long quote/reply treatment...

Handbags away!!

LOL

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Sad, innit? We can't help it, but we still judge people by their looks, clothes, hair, and yes, even hooded tops.

Indeed 'tis. I've been told that the hoodie below isn't all bad.

Despite the hood and his evil-looking eyes, he's just a bit misunderstood, and he'll eventually see the error of his ways. In the meantime, he'll get into fights and end up legless...

There is some good in him.