Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Thanks Filbert - remember it well.
Slowed down a bit by not noticing that 1a was 2 words. And a bit dense in looking for a generic term in 38 at first. Totally bamboozled by the change letter in 34 even when I knew what it had to be. Very clever clueing

As it’s gone very quiet on here, barring some social chit-chat, I can only assume that once again I’m one of the only regulars to have pulled up baffled at the last fence.
Can I have a very gentle nudge, please, to unblock the brain?
• I have a confidently correct full grid;
• I’ve spelled out what the crucial part of the protest was, and I know who the protester is.
• I have, in strict accordance with the third sentence of the preamble, replaced the protester’s popular epithet appearing in the grid, with a three-word paraphrase of the earlier part of the protest, using all the listed “extra” definitions.
• I have an unclued two word thematic linear object that could perhaps be described as “thematically located” (see sentence 4 of the preamble) - but I’m not sure whether it’s correctly the “object under discussion” as it’s not, I think, where the exact occurrence being protested about took place – but I can’t see anything else in the grid that could qualify as an “object under discussion” in this context.
• I understand the title as a clever paraphrase of what I take to be the “protester’s stated justification” ; but having identified all possible valid variants of the cross-checking letters in the down entries, I cannot for the life of me see any version of the “justification” that can substitute for the unclued linear object while leaving only two non-words, as stipulated.

Any discreet help desperately sought – the answer must[b/] be obvious because you’ve all finished without comment - but Stupid here is clueless. Oh! the shame!!

Oops! sorry about the shouty mis-punctuation of the last sentence - playing with the toolkit - but you know what I mean.

Look for the “protester’s stated justification” in the grid, with one letter that needs changing to make it read correctly. When you've identified that letter, you'll have more idea about the thematic object!

Loge. It’s a pity that the linear object wasn’t placed lower down, then the title might have been reflected more accurately. As it is, it’s the inverse!

I read the title three-dimensionally, SS!

Loge, See what you mean, or even a possible plan view.
Still I shouldn’t try and find fault, I couldn’t match some of the wonderful constructions that the setters produce. Long may they prosper!

Simon, was that 'find fault' pun deliberate? 😂

Brendan, completely inadvertent, he lied. 🙄

Aaaaaaahhh!

Thank you, Loge - blindingly obvious - when you see it... and much more 'thematic' than I'd given the setter credit for. Also missed the BA connection because I was tuned in to the other verb the protester used in the White Rose justification earlier in the complete, repetitive version of the protest as reported.

Thank you Filbert for an (ultimately) very satisfying puzzle.

You have an irrepressable sense of humour.