Madam, I am sure most people are aware by now the BNP and their supporters held a function in Ross the weekend before last. I do not wish to dwell on the politics of either side, however I would like to share my observations of that night.
The Chase Hotel kindly laid on transport for members of staff to assist them through the line of protesters. I watched in horror as those who felt this function should not go ahead, physically attack the taxis taking staff through the entrance.
Some of the protesters shook the vehicles from side to side, jumped on the bonnets and hammered on the windows. My teenage daughter was in one of the taxis along with other teenagers who work there. I would like those protesters to imagine just what it was like, watching such a scene knowing your child is inside one of the vehicles.
Thanks to the Police, who quickly brought the situation under control, the protesters were held off long enough for the vehicles to enter.
The protesters were there, I believe to speak out about the extreme behaviour of a certain group in our society, why then did they feel it was acceptable for them to use extreme behaviour to get their message across?
Protest by all means, with banners, words and booing, not with physical violence. I think the individual protesters that resorted to such behaviour should be ashamed of themselves.
Helen Churchill, Ross