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While in the United Kingdom, I found myself right in the middle of a transgender rights protest. What I noticed in the difference between protests that occur in the United Kingdom and in the United States was shocking.
During the protest, counter-protesters who opposed transgenderism were seen being recorded by police up close and at different camera angles. After speaking to a U.K. citizen, I learned that not only is it used as evidence in court if criminal charges are brought against a person, but it’s also used to identify them via facial recognition to determine if they should be arrested on the spot for any outstanding criminal charges.
The surveillance of protesters and counter-protesters is undoubtedly a sore spot. Yet the protests themselves, as I was told, are generally peaceful. In the United States, protests often devolve into riots, where looting, burning buildings, assault and more are the norm rather than the exception. The U.K. is different (except for the George Floyd protests, as I was told).
It seems that the U.K., which has notoriously draconian speech laws, has traded free speech rights for safer protests.
Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.