‘May Constitute Offenses Of Unlawful Assembly’

March 1, 2016

[Updated] Some of the “behaviors demonstrated” this morning “may constitute the offenses of unlawful assembly or obstruction” and “we are preparing a file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether any charges should be laid,” Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva said today.

The Commissioner’s comments follow after the protest this morning which saw people descend on the East Broadway area holding signs about the proposed immigration reform, and holding a protest that lasted to just past 9.00am, with some of the protesters standing in the road for a portion of the event, which caused traffic delays for commuters heading to town from the west end.

Update: 9-minute video of the full police press conference:

Speaking at a press conference, Commissioner DeSilva said, “I would also like to remind the public that last month we circulated some advice on the correct procedure to follow to obtain permission for a public procession under the Public Order Act.

“Any protest that takes place in a public street must have a permit issued from the Deputy Governor’s office, and all and any directions given by the police must be complied with.

“That does not appear to be the case this morning, and some of the behaviours demonstrated may constitute the offenses of unlawful assembly or obstruction. Accordingly, we are preparing a file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether any charges should be laid.”

Slideshow of photos from this morning’s protest:


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“The protest this morning caused significant and unnecessary disruption to the free movements of the general public,” added the Commissioner.

This marks the fourth protest in recent days, following after the chanting in the public gallery of the House of Assembly, the protests at the information session which resulted in the event being closed down, and the gathering in Hamilton last week, which saw hundreds of people outside the Government Administration building.

Update 2.13pm: The Commissioner’s statement is below

Members of the public will be aware of protest activity that took place this morning. Around 6:30 am approximately 30 persons gathered near the junction of East Broadway and Lane Hill and commenced a protest.

Police officers arrived shortly after and were immediately concerned that the protestors were standing across the road and had blocked both lanes entering the City of Hamilton. The police spoke with the organizers and urged them to move to the sidewalk for their own safety and to allow the free flow of traffic. The protestors did not cooperate with the police who resorted to directing traffic around the protestors for their safety.

Police continued the effort to move the protestors to the safety of the sidewalk until around 8:15 am when the persons eventually moved out of the road. The police then worked to relieve several traffic jams that had resulted and eventually traffic flow resumed normally, sometime after 9:00 am.

I would like to apologize for the significant inconvenience that was caused to many road users this morning who were made late by this incident. I would also like to thank the many members of the public who exercised patience and supported the efforts of the police to navigate through this spontaneous protest.

I also want to remind the public that we circulated a notice last month advising on the correct procedure to obtain permission for a public procession under the Public Order Act. Any protest that takes place in a public street must have a permit issued from the Deputy Governor’s office and all directions from the police must be complied with.

That was not the case this morning and some of the behaviours demonstrated may constitute the offences of unlawful assembly or obstruction. Accordingly, we are preparing a file for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether any charges should be laid.

The Bermuda Police Service is alive to the issues that are being passionately discussed in the community. We respect and uphold the constitutional rights of everyone to free speech, and to gather and peacefully protest.

But we remind protestors and organizers that their actions must be lawful and they must not intrude on the rights of others. The protest this morning caused significant and unnecessary disruption to the free movement of the general public, and it placed the police in the untenable position of being caught in the middle.

Whether a protest is about pathways to status, same sex marriage or furlough days, the police do not hold any views on the merits of the debate. Our job is not to take a position on the issue. Rather, we are mandated to maintain peace and good order and facilitate the exercise of democratic rights to protest peacefully and lawfully.

And where we must intervene, our policy is to use the least intrusive and coercive law enforcement measures possible to resolve conflict. It does no community any good for the police to use heavy-handed tactics to address protestors over issues that are already emotionally charged to begin with.

This is of course the reason why there are laws that govern protests, and that is why the public must follow the rules: so that the police are not caught in the middle of protestors who have a right to protest and other members of the public who have the right to move about freely.

These rules are in place to keep both protesters and other members of the public safe. I encourage anyone who is organizing any other similar activities to contact our Operational Planning Officer at Hamilton Police Station where we will be happy to assist with planning and permits, where they are required, in order to avoid the potential of running afoul with the law.


Update 4.03pm:
The Commissioner referenced the Public Order Act above, and if you are interested a copy of the Public Order Act 1963 is here [PDF].

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Comments (122)

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  1. Unbelievable says:

    Book ‘em Danno!

    • Onion Juice says:

      If they had common sense, they would stand where Johnny Barns used to stand.

    • Robert says:

      Thanks for telling everyone with an IQ over 40 already knew.

      So if we resist police we can tell them to go and direct traffic? How much are we paying these people? News flash you have the power to arrest people.

      Or were the officers waiting fr a note from the protestors mothers giving them permission.

      The police look like complete fools, bested by cardboard and a sharpie. They need to admit they look like a bunch of overpaid hall monitors.

      I hope while they see there they bothered to check IDs so we can arrest these people. Lock them up and maybe we business owners can then collectively sue them for lost revenue.

      March on that you idiots.

    • ReALLyBettty says:

      Protest often requires one take steps that are difficult to achieve the end results.

      “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

      -Martin Luther King, Jr.

      Folks do not be pushed aside by such unnecessary actions by the Police or Government. The People Voices will continue to stand and this will further push others to Stand Stand…….

      Bermuda needs COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM……………NOW…NOW

      Stand Strong

      • hmmm says:

        MLK would be supporting the immigration proposal. You don’t even begin to understand these people you quote !

      • Rich says:

        FFS comparing yourselves to Martin Luther King Jr.

        He used civil disobedience to protest injustice.

        These folks are using civil disobedience to protest in favour of maintaining an unjust status quo.

        • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

          “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”

          ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

          Bermuda Needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform….NOW

          • Rich says:

            I have no reason to depart from the MLK quote you gave. Some people might well have a conscience that tells them that protesting ‘pathways’ is right.

            I and others, too, have consciences which tell that ‘pathways’ is right notwithstanding that it is a position that is not popular with you or others who are protesting.

            Throwing around MLK quotes however does not mask the fact that you are fighting for an unjust status quo.

            Have a read of this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/obery-m-hendricks-jr-phd/martin-luther-king-and-im_b_9002016.html

            Despite his appropriation by both sides of the immigration question in America, apparently Martin Luther King never directly addressed the issue; in his day it was not perceived as the major crisis that it is today. Still, we may with a good deal of confidence project what his position on immigration might be at this juncture in that we know the factors that would shape and inform his thinking on it; they are the same factors that shaped his thinking and his activism on every public issue he addressed. These factors include the witness of the Bible, in this case biblical pronouncements about the treatment of immigrants by citizens of a country not their own, and King’s belief that every human being is imago dei — made in the image of God. These factors were undergirded by the foundational ethical teachings of the Bible to which King appealed throughout his social ministry — justice and love.

            One of the most important themes in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) is hospitality and care for the ger, a Hebrew term variously translated as sojourner, alien, resident alien, stranger, foreigner and immigrant. Several of these terms for ger will be used interchangeably here. The Bible gives specific directives on how the ger — the immigrant, the resident alien — should be treated. Among them are the following:

            Society has a sacred responsibility for the welfare of immigrants:

            • “[God] makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly; [God] loves the foreigners who live with our people, and gives them food and clothing. So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19).

            • “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor’” (Zechariah 7:9-10).

            • “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien” (Leviticus 23:22).

            Immigrants are to be treated with justice and fairness:

            • “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow of justice” (Deuteronomy 27:19).

            • “Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien” (Deuteronomy 1:16).

            • “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien” (Leviticus 19:33).

            Regulatory protections are to be provided for immigrants:

            • “You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other citizens or aliens who reside in your land” (Deuteronomy 24:14).

            • “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that … the resident alien may be refreshed” (Exodus 23:12-13).

            Immigrants are to be accepted as social equals:

            • “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:34).

            • “You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19)

            Moreover, in the Greek New Testament believers are often characterized as “aliens” and “strangers” (xenoi), in the sense of immigrants in a new land (of faith), as in 1 Peter: “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles…” (2:1). The Letter to the Hebrews offers a metaphysical reason for treating immigrants with care: “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (13:2)

            These are among the biblical teachings with which King, a third generation preacher, was imbued from his youth. Although as far as we know King never publicly spoke about immigration issues, at least as they are presented today, what his positions might be today can be gleaned from his writings. In his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” King wrote:

            Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

            In that letter King specifically made reference to charges that protest activities in Birmingham by the non-resident King made him an interloper, an outsider come to make trouble. But his words also hold a profound significance for America’s immigration question: that when it comes to human rights and welfare, to efforts to achieve justice and a decent quality of life, no one should be excluded: “… inescapable network of mutuality… a single garment of destiny… never be considered an outsider anywhere…”

            King truly believed in “love your neighbor as yourself.” It was his view that it is people’s humanity that is primary, not their nationality or geographic origins; that one’s humanity and claim to humane treatment cannot be diminished by a lack of official documentation; and that neither possession of documents nor the lack thereof had anything to do with the right to pursue a decent life and living for oneself and one’s family. King’s radical inclusivity is reflected in a September 1966 telegram he sent to Cesar Chavez, head of the United Farm Workers, a union largely comprised of undocumented immigrant workers. King wrote, “As brothers in the fight for equality…. Our struggles are really one: a struggle for freedom, for dignity and for humanity.”

            What can we conclude from all of this? We cannot know for sure what specific policies King would propose or support, but there are several things that we can venture with assurance: that King would condemn the demonization of undocumented immigrants, the name-calling and general characterization of them as rapists and criminals and terrorists; he would condemn the objectification of undocumented immigrants as “illegals,” a term that fails to reflect their humanity and human worth; and he would reject the narrow, legalistic nationalism of the type Clarence Jones attempts to pin on him. But first and foremost, we know that he would have the same measure of concern for the welfare and security of undocumented immigrants that he held for all people of every rank, religion, race and nationality: that they and their children should have adequate food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education and suitable life-chances.

            In other words, Martin Luther King would support any orderly and well administered immigration policy that honors and respects the integrity, wellbeing, and right to liberty, justice, equality and the pursuit of happiness for all people within our borders; and that in humane fashion considers the need for the safety of asylum for those who flee to our borders from danger, death and destruction. As for immigration policies that do not in substance honor the human personality in all these ways, one can be assured that the Martin Luther King, Jr., who said “I choose to give my life for those who have been left out” would stand against them with all of his being.

          • hmmm says:

            Once again…

            MLK would be supporting the immigration proposal. You don’t even begin to understand these people you quote !

      • Noncents says:

        Betty,

        Using MLK quotes make no sense. He stood for equal rights and was a humanitarian. These idiots are xenophobic zealots.

        • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

          “A dog can bite you but you must not bite the dog! Your every movement in life must be peaceful; otherwise you lose your ethical superiority! Nonviolent civil disobedience is a genius; no power can beat it; use it when necessary!”
          ― Mehmet Murat ildan

          BERMUDA NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM>>>>>>NOW NOW NOW

          • hmmm says:

            SO what do the PLP have ? WAITING …………………………………………….

      • Robert says:

        The day anything you say makes sense to anyone not either inebriated or functionally retarded would be the first.

        Even the voices in your head think you’re crazy.

        The whole argument is based on race and background, but MLK is being quoted. A nice way to diminish the importance of what he did for the advancement of civil liberties. Do you even understand that this issue and those he stood up are so far apart they may as well be two galaxies?

        That probably flew right over your head right there.

  2. Wha says:

    May? Decide to lay charges? They broke the law… Arrest them!

    • ReALLyBettty says:

      If one Stand Strong on a issue, they will continue to Stand, regardless of threats……..this will not in any way Stop Folks standing up for an Issue…..history has recorded as much………….STAND STRONG..

      BERMUDA NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM>…

      THis just steams the People to continue to stand up….

      The Government must listen to the People….

      • FedUp says:

        @reALLyBettty do you see your fellow Bermudians condemning your acts of ignorance on this tread? Not only are these protesters not at work they are causing Bermudians who have jobs to be late! Please keep dividing this country – you are the problem here!

    • James Rego says:

      Mike DeSilva has to be the worst COP even compared to Johnathan Smith. As one commentator on here calls him / herself: Have Some Backbone, restore law and order and do what you are being paid to do!

  3. Cow Polly says:

    MAY constitute the offenses of unlawful assembly or obstruction? Oh ffs grow some will you and get your officers to do what they should have done this morning!
    yes I’m vexed………. this cost me BIG time this morning at work and my employers are not happy.

    • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

      “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law”
      ― Martin Luther King Jr.

      • Rhonnda Oliver says:

        NIce that you agree they should be arrested for breaking the law.

  4. San George says:

    You are going to have to lock a whole lot of us up mate – enlarge your prisons.

    Quo Fata Ferunt

    • MJ says:

      Oh yeah? So be it. It’s called the law – obey it, or else.

      You know, while I don’t support or agree with the protestors in the slightest, I’d never deny you the right to protest – just do it in the right manner. This morning was out of line, and, if against the law, deserves punishment. You made innocent people (and likely some of your supporters) late for work, miss meetings, doctor’s appointments, kids late for school, and the like. Absolutely uncalled for. You want to protest? Fine. But do it like decent citizens who deserve respect and to be listened to, and not like a bunch of idiots.

      • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

        “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
        ― Desmond Tutu

        • hmmm says:

          The oppressor is the protest in this case… were you born slippy?

        • Legalgal says:

          I know the Archbishop. I know where he would stand. Not in the middle of the road spewing xenophobic, racist sentiment. Both for gay people and foreigners.

          Do not misuse him.

    • serengeti says:

      Not really. There were maybe 20-25 people. A decent fine for each person should go towards compensating for the Police time wasted, and for the hours of inconvenience for everyone trying to get to work.

      • What? says:

        I would hazard a guess that those ~20 people don’t have jobs and a fine would only further compound their perceived injustice and anger.

    • Anbu says:

      Why? Prison isnt supposed to be comfy. Jam as many of u lot in there as we can! Maybe then you will follow rules

    • inna says:

      Nah mate.

      Enlarge your narrow-minded view of Bermuda and the world, mate !

      • ReALLyBettty says:

        “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
        ― Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World

        Bermuda Needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform…..NOW

    • Terry says:

      Plenty room on Paget Island.
      You should know ‘San George’.

    • Rich says:

      Actually, Westgate is at record lows right now. There’s plenty of excess space in there right now.

  5. Cup of tean Anyone? says:

    Winfield trying to call it a ‘prayer vigil’. LMFAO

    • Bermy says:

      Take it she is going to be the first one to relinquish her status paperwork

      • Cup of tean Anyone? says:

        Dont hold your breath. Hypocrisy knows no bounds

  6. You break the law you get arrested. says:

    These people clearly broke the law this morning and you may arrest them. Seriously, the next time someone shots someone they may get prosecuted also. The law is the law. They are not supposed to be made to be broken they are supposed to be made for people to abide by. The word may should not be part of any of these sentences. Grow some _alls please.

    • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

      Folks have a Right to Protest,……………even if folks like you disagree………….People will continue to Stand up on this issue…and believe me there are hundreds of others that stand with them……do not push too hard, you might get a shock……really

      • Onion says:

        They do have a right to speak, including protesting.

        They don’t have a right to ruin everyone else’s morning and needlessly block traffic and ignore the Police.

      • Rich says:

        You have a right to protest. You don’t, however, have a right to break the law.

        Which is what happened when the House of Assembly and Senate were invaded. When a public meeting with Ministers was disrupted. When the flow of traffic was disrupted.

        Civil Disobedience is associated with folks such as Henry David Thoreau, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks. These were individuals who were protesting against an unjust status quo.

        Do no dare to put Walton Brown and his hangers-on in the same category as these luminaries. They are protesting in favour of an unjust status quo.

  7. Good Grief says:

    A law that was put in place to keep blacks from protesting injustices in the first place.

    The police didn’t go after the gay supporters who didn’t have a permit to be on the cabinet grounds on February 9th, so why are they going to pursue this?

    Stand firm Bermudians!

    • Come Correct says:

      They did have a permit.

      • Good Grief says:

        No the gay supporters did not! Preserve marriage had the permit.

        • Come Correct says:

          Permission sorry. There was no need for a permit.

      • for the record says:

        A permit wasnt needed because there was no disruption of any sort.

    • hmmm says:

      You are making things up, these laws exist all around the world.

    • Ok so... says:

      The gay supporters were not disrupting traffic into town! and being generally disrespectful towards Bermudians and expats who were going to work!

      • Good Grief says:

        Yet the same law applies! Can’t prosecute one group and not the other!

        • jt says:

          I think you need to review the document above. A permit is required in certain situations, not all.

    • Jack de ripper says:

      Uuummm probably because they werent trampling other people’s rights like freedom of movement in the process. Just a bunch of illiterate people judging from some of the signs on display.

    • Rich says:

      That was a static protest. It was in public but it wasn’t disrupting traffic. It also wasn’t the case that “some of the behaviours demonstrated may constitute the offenses of unlawful assembly or obstruction” re the Cabinet Grounds gathering. Can’t speak for this morning, but those are the Police’s words.

  8. Noncents says:

    Please charge these clowns. How dare they inconvenience so many people that do not share their views. I am so sick of how much attention this small (in every sense of the word) group of individuals receive.

    I had clients in from the US that were 30 minutes late for a meeting this morning because of traffic coming from Southampton. Do we think that leaves a good taste in their mouths?

    • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

      I did not see any clowns in uniforms at the event…….but I do see a few hiding behind their keyboards, calling folks that stand up on a significant issue clowns………….please quit your insulting name calling and get a life…..Folks have a right to protest…….Protest does not always mean you will agree, …….

      • Noncents says:

        But folks don’t have the right to inconvenience the rest of us with their petty nonsense.

        Selfish……..Clowns

    • James Rego says:

      @Noncents
      They don’t care, their desire is to ruin Bermuda even further, so that the PLP can regain the feeding trough. Which will contain nothing!

  9. West End Girl says:

    Then why did the police not arrest them? I was delayed by protesters at 6:30 this morning. I was so annoyed. Why should my civil liberty to arrive at my destination be denied? They should have been arrested.

    I have an opinion as well. And it could well be that my opinion may dovetail with the protestors. But what they did today was WRONG!!!!!!

    • Good Grief says:

      Good question. The police were right there, if laws were being broken, why weren’t they arrested immediately?

  10. Jus' Askin' says:

    :-(

  11. Bullseye says:

    They want to get arrested. They want to be seen as being harassed and having their rights taken away. They are selling victimhood.

    • ReallyReallyBETTTY says:

      “Protest is when I say I don’t like this. Resistance is when I put an end to what I don’t like. Protest is when I say I refuse to go along with this anymore. Resistance is when I make sure everybody else stops going along too.”
      ― Ulrike Marie Meinhof

      Bermuda needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform…NOW

      • Onion says:

        It is getting comprehensive immigration reform. You just want things the way they were 2003-2012.

        • hmmm says:

          That was comprehensive Emmigration reform….hence parly why we are having to climb out of a mess today and tomorrow.

  12. BornB says:

    Yes I !!! Just like how THIS government has inconvenienced US BERMUDIANS…. and doesn’t care about US BERMUDIANS… well then s**** trickles down hill, in this case up hill because we are pushing it whether YOU like it or not… we feel YOU feel it…. more to come!!! It’s about time BERMUDIANS fight for the right things, well done!!!! Those who are offended too bad… one bad apple spoils the bunch.. in this case the GOVERNMENT is the bad apple!!!

    • hmmm says:

      You are wrong, the government is not the bad apple….you know absolutely nothing.

      • Pro voice says:

        You very are right “hmmm” they are not the bad apple because they are against SSM so is Rubio…thanks for admitting it finally.

    • MJ says:

      Bernews needs a middle finger icon for posts like this one.

    • Ann says:

      Wow! you and your 10 friends out there really showed them! Maybe look for work instead of making signs!

    • Robert says:

      you’re stupid.

    • Robert says:

      Please tell me you don’t children. Please. You are saying enough stupid things for two or three people, please do not continue this atrocity on logical thought by having children; who by no fault of their will be handicapped for life thanks to the intellect they inherited from you.

      One thing Bermuda needs less of is people with 5th grade intellectual capabilities.

      • hmmm says:

        SO, when are you leaving Robert?

      • Felix says:

        Followers were told to “go and fornicate in the bushes”! This is the result!

      • stunned... says:

        Robert stay on the high road. you cannot outdo stupidity. you will be bested by their years of experience.

    • Cow Polly says:

      You do know that the Government was put into power by a MAJORITY vote don’t you?
      Oh and by the way, obstructing Bermudians from getting to work in the morning is not fighting for the right thing!

    • Blindeye says:

      You are literally what is wrong with this island. The small mindedness of you and people like you will continue to destroy this island.

      Things HAVE to change for Bermuda to become better! The govt is not just throwing citizenship to anybody! Many of these people would have already lived in Bermuda for years and years, who have children that were born here! “Kicking” expats out is not going to create jobs for anymore Bermudians if anything the economy will become worse. Because those expats who drink in your bars, use your services, create bank accounts, eat out, grocery shop will leave. Then more businesses will close and yall still be struggling.

      • Loquat Juice says:

        Helloooo!

      • skytrain says:

        I have never felt this uncomfortable since arriving on the island. Like many of my expat friends we’re starting to make contingency plans in case things get out of control.

    • asampson says:

      Stand in front of my car. Please stand in front of my car. I can guarantee we’ll both be famous

  13. Triangle Drifter says:

    “may constitute the offenses of unlawful assembly or obstruction”

    Are you kidding? Thousands were delayed this morning. That was time lost for people who were trying to get to work. How many tens of thousands of dollars of time were wasted away this morning, never mind the cost of the BPS who must have had other things to do with their time.

    There should be no question. Book them. Lots of pictures were taken. This mob is known.

    Next time somebody blows through radar at 100K are they going to sit around & say “this MAY constitute an offence”?

  14. SMH says:

    I just do not understand why these people were not arrested! They broke the law. They should have been arrested. These kinds of protests are going to become more and more frequent if the law is not abided by from the start.

    • Good Grief says:

      So you want to stop the protests entirely? Perhaps you want to live in the 1950s too?

  15. Robert Richard says:

    Just proves that Betmudians have the market cornered when it comes to stupid.

  16. No longer a member says:

    VERY WEEK POLICE FORCE, O I FORGOT, THEY ARE A POLICE SERVICE NOW??????????? WHAT A JOKE OF A COUNTRY WE ARE BECOMING!!!!

  17. Torian says:

    Charge em $500 a person. We’ll get this island’s debt squared away real fast if they charge all these bigots and homophobes.

  18. NEW ONION says:

    I HAD A JOB INTERVIEW TODAY.HEADED INTO TOWN TWO HOURS AHEAD OF TIME,TRAFFIC WAS SO BACKED UP I MISSED THE INTERVIEW. OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD START.. MMMM WONDER IF THIS COULD HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO SOMEONE… WHO CARES RIGHT.

    • Legalgal says:

      Sorry New Onion. Do hope they re interview. Good luck.

    • Come Correct says:

      Did you call and explain or sit in traffic and twiddle your thumbs? Yes you were inconvenienced by a bunch, but going to an interview you need to go the extra mile.

  19. Ann says:

    Someone already said this, But It would be a hoot if they did this at 5:00 rather than 9:00, People don’t stop at 5!

  20. swing voter says:

    time is money. Business lost money because of illegal obstructive activity. No different than picketing the front entrances to IB office buildings…..I’m sure the government has been asked to consider IB and local businesses point of concern

  21. Starting Point says:

    Why is the PLP and their posters hiding behind the phrase ‘comprehensive immigration reform’? and call for a bi-partisan approach?

    This is all we ever hear but at no point have they stated what reforms they want for us as a people to even know how we can support or challenge them. What exactly do the PLP want to see in terms of immigration changes?

    Can someone from the PLP side please articulate the kind of reforms they are looking for please.

    I fear that is probably a rhetorical question unfortunately because the wording that is used by the opposition leads me to believe they have zero ideas or actually zero desire to see any reforms and that they do not want the public to know that so they use the same quote over and over again. The goal simply seems to be to present a fictitious counter to the OBAs polices.

    I would love to be surprised, again please, if a PLP supporter in the know can provide some bullet points on what reforms the party is looking for, can they post them. I would actually even prefer this to come from a frequent follower such as onion or betty etc., not the tag line but the actual party position on potential reforms. This would help us on the government side to at least know the followers are not doing so blindly but do have a clear sense of the oppositions platform.

  22. Truth is killin' me... says:

    I have to agree. This crowd wanted a Police presence to arrest them and inforce their victim status. The Govt. did the the right thing THIS TIME. NEXT TIME I BELIEVE THE POLICE WILL NOT BE SO LENIENT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

  23. Another frustrated local says:

    The week America’s Cup was here in October the traffic was terrible and NONE of you complained. It lasted about 4 days…….You might have been 10 minutes late today, AC had you getting work almost an hour late.

    • Abby says:

      Uh…I was actually almost 2 hours late for work today…it was utter BS what they pulled. Between this and the SSM I could not be more disgusted with this island right now. Would give up my status to any PRC if I could. I can’t fathom why anyone would even want Status. Gov needs to grow a pair.

      • Actually! says:

        You don’t have to give up your status to leave. Just d.a.m.n well leave! Ciao!

    • Jus' Askin' says:

      It’s ONLY a Problem when Bermudians do it ;-) ;-)

    • Izzypop says:

      And look how much money they left in Bermuda I am sure in some way your pocket benefited. And we knew Americas cup was coming. No one knew the few that are afraid more white people are going to be allowed in Bermuda was going to do this. And yes it’s not about reform. It’s about that pie chart showing how many white folk would be eligible to vote and who they might vote for. If that pie chart showed different we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

    • Wha says:

      How are you comparing a planned event that had notified road closures with the illegal spontaneous outright selfish blocking of the road?

    • James Rego says:

      @Another frustrated local
      America’s Cup week produced $8.6 million dollars to help you and our economy! What did today’s work stoppage produce for our economy?

      • Grizz says:

        Help me and my economy? Lolol America’s Cup is helping who/what it should! It certainly doesn’t include all! Helping me and the economy, while the education budget shrinks and schools close. Please hush about America’s Cup!!

  24. Observation says:

    All about the cause but hiding from the camera. HA.

  25. Doiiiiii says:

    Everyone look at the faces of stupid in the protest footage video. Shame on them for bringing children into that mess. Aren’t kids supposed to be in school?

    Arrest every one of those people for endangering the public and reckless endangerment of motor traffic.

    These people are too dumb to even realize how wrong they are on the topic at hand.

    Just like how at the Carnival you cannot ride a ride if you are under a certain height or age. So should people who have LOW IQs be BANNED from voting in elections!

    IQ under 80, CANNOT VOTE! Would you let a 8yr old child vote? NO! What is the difference when these people average 80 or less on IQ?

    • Actually! says:

      Your officious arrogance and hatred reveals more about you than any of the protestors. Irrespective of how intelligent you ASSume you are in comparison to others, your asinine comments illustrate how incredibly unintelligent you really are!

  26. Huff n Puff says:

    These wannabes just wannabe the next Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks. We all know the routine. You brag about doing this type of scheme. You make woeful protests and when you break the law and get arrested you whine and cry like babies and accuse police and the government of being racist and oppressive, then you sensationalize everything and then protest about that and keep telling your children and relatives and buddies to all take part in the scheme. It is one big scheme and you have bragged about it, so the fact is that it would be no surprise if you lot do it here in bermuda too. You do it everywhere else. And it is all for attention and all for your puny little minds which are so self-absorbed that all you think about is the imaginary suffering of those in the past and use it as fuel for your innate desire to loathe in the imaginary suffering

    I bet you lot want a statue commemorating your “brave” achievement with the protest today.

  27. Patience says:

    Please just keep preparing the file and arrest them on the Wednesday night before Cup Match ! Leave in jail over the holiday !

    • Actually! says:

      YAWN!!!!!

      • Come Correct says:

        Up early illegally blocking traffic? Get some rest, tomorrow everyone will be over it and it won’t have mattered.q

  28. nik says:

    One thing about this group they are stepping it up each and everytime and when you least expect like this morning at the meeting and in parliament.lol Bermuda pay attention life is no joke.THE ARE STEPPING IT!

  29. Ian Millen says:

    Good job the civil rights campaigners did not wait for the powers to be to grant them permission to march for racial equality ! Or even equality for woman but maybe you all forgot that part of history!

    • Double S says:

      Now they are marching against others civil rights!

      How ironic.

  30. james says:

    How can the Commissioner describe this as a spontaneous protest? It happened at 6:30 am, it had to be planned. They should have been arrested. Obviously the police present were sympathetic to the cause! Disgraceful. They book all the cars by Elbow Beach at Christmas because it causes an obstruction and do nothing about this!

  31. Unbelievable says:

    These morning protesters are making Bermuda look like a back-water, uneducated community.

    • Actually! says:

      I thought we were uneducated and backwater, thus the need for all the highly intelligent, skilled and qualified expats to save us!!!!!!! SARCASM INTENDED!

      • Come Correct says:

        You were there? Hope you receive a summons to court. Enjoy.

  32. Triangle Drifter says:

    Keystone Cops at best. The law is the law. Enforce it.

  33. Y-Gurl says:

    The cops were worse than the clowns standing on the road, the cops were facilitating this idiotic action, if I had a bit of support for their cause it’s gone now after being in traffic for 45 minutes and late for work. Annoying the hard working public doesn’t get you support. The BPS need to grow some balls and deal properly with type of disorder and for DeSilva to chip in with his usual after the fact statement does absolutely nothing to restore the publics faith in our third world police service operating out of their depth in a first world country

  34. Allan says:

    I was embarrassed for our police force. They showed good restraint, as the last thing we would want is a confrontation that could easily and most likely escalate. While the cause may be well meaning, we voted the present Government in to lead the Country. Now all we hear is the “losers” jumping up and down to be enabled to arm-chair run the Country. They (PLP) had a long period of time to solve all the problems, and yet what they did was exactly what was promised, ruin the Country! I await to see what prosecutions will arise from this blatant disrespect of the Country, perhaps we all know whom the 1st one charged should be.

  35. nok says:

    Stand firm group don’t loose sight!

  36. Say what says:

    Bermudains are tired and feed up with this Oba Goverment and there tricks. Its a protest people why are we making an issue of being inconvienced, or late for work like you have never been late before. People in Bda have reason to protest they want to be heard.

    • No Laughing Matter says:

      Tell that to the employees who got fired this morning for being late because of your unlawful protest.
      Speak for yourself. You do not speak for all of Bermuda! You want to be heard, stand on the SIDEWALK and protest. Because of your selfish act this morning, I now have no sympathy for your cause. NONE!

  37. Lone Wolf says:

    Okay, first off – I do not agree with how this protest disrupted so many people and I truly hope that everyone involved is put in court for it.

    Even though we all know that they won’t actually receive any form of punishment other than a ‘stern talking to’. I am sure the Judge will tell them they were naughty and not to do it again but that will be the most that will happen to them. We ALL know it!

    Second off – How can ANY employer fire or even be irritated with ANY employees who were late because of this protest? They can’t. There was nothing that anyone could have done about it – short of simply driving right through and over the protesters.

    So in my opinion, anyone who was fired because they were late, was most likely already on the chopping block to be fired.

    And any employers who may have been angry with any employees should apologize to those employees as it CLEARLY was not the actions of those employees that caused them to be late.