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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Protesters charged

178 replies

Sapphire387 · 13/09/2022 13:41

A woman has apparently been charged for a 'breach of the peace' for holding up a sign that read 'fuck imperialism, abolish the monarchy'. A man has been charged with the same, for shouting at Andrew and calling him 'a sick old man'.

AIBU to find this deeply concerning and an attack on freedom of speech?

Whether pro or anti-monarchy, I think we should all be allowed to express our views on this.

YABU - they should have been charged.
YANBU - they should not have been charged.

OP posts:
Anystarinthesky · 13/09/2022 13:47

Not appropriate at the funeral procession for the Queen.

The other people are there to mourn and show their respect for the Queen.

They showed what they thought of the young man by dragging him swiftly away.

Original poster
Sapphire387 · 13/09/2022 13:49

There's a difference between 'inappropriate' and 'should be arrested for it', surely?

OP posts:
Cheeseandwines · 13/09/2022 13:51

Anystarinthesky · 13/09/2022 13:47

Not appropriate at the funeral procession for the Queen.

The other people are there to mourn and show their respect for the Queen.

They showed what they thought of the young man by dragging him swiftly away.

A fan of mob rule I see. Civil liberties should not be eroded because of monarchist sentiment. Very sad.

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 13:55

Good. Some people are too stupid to be allowed out alone. Maybe this will be a teaching moment for them. It was not the place or time, there are many who are mourning.

Wetcappuccino · 13/09/2022 14:05

What about the person arrested for holding up a sign saying “Not my king” at the proclamation? Not even the procession. How is it justifiable to arrest them?

LetMeSpeak · 13/09/2022 14:07

They should definitely be charged even if it want a time of mourning. We don’t have freedom of hateful speech in this country.

Wanda616 · 13/09/2022 14:07

The court will decide whether they broke any laws. Freedom of speech has never been an absolute right at all times and places.

35965a · 13/09/2022 14:08

Just because something is inappropriate doesn’t mean the law should be involved. I find this quite scary.

ParvuliThankYouDebbie · 13/09/2022 15:11

LetMeSpeak · 13/09/2022 14:07

They should definitely be charged even if it want a time of mourning. We don’t have freedom of hateful speech in this country.

Hate Crime laws in the UK are based on certain protected characteristics. Being a member of the Royal family isn’t one of them.

newdocket · 13/09/2022 15:14

I'm really disturbed by this. This is the kind of thing we brand other states autocratic for.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/09/2022 15:17

I would contribute to a fund for their defense. Protest against the rich and powerful should always be allowed.

And my police officer friend is fond of saying, "it's not illegal to be an arsehole" nor should it be.

LuckyLil · 13/09/2022 15:18

The timing was wrong while walking behind the coffin of the Queen, but we know what Andrew got up to was far worse than someone pointing out his behaviour is pretty unpleasant. All it reads to me as is 22 year old arrested for having an opinion really.

Loics · 13/09/2022 15:20

It is very worrying, and worrying that people are defending it. We are allowed free speech, what they said is not classed as hate speech. No one should be arrested for calling someone a "dirty old man" or for opposing the monarchy.
Very sad ans concerning that some people support it.

LuckyLil · 13/09/2022 15:20

LetMeSpeak · 13/09/2022 14:07

They should definitely be charged even if it want a time of mourning. We don’t have freedom of hateful speech in this country.

Having an opinion is not hate speech.

sammylady37 · 13/09/2022 15:21

newdocket · 13/09/2022 15:14

I'm really disturbed by this. This is the kind of thing we brand other states autocratic for.

Absolutely. Arresting them is reminiscent of North Korea.

Pearock · 13/09/2022 15:22

I did enjoy the heckler being clotheslined and escorted away but to arrest people is madness.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/09/2022 15:22

Absolutely. Arresting them is reminiscent of North Korea.

They are no more elected than Kim Jong-un.

Loics · 13/09/2022 15:23

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 13:55

Good. Some people are too stupid to be allowed out alone. Maybe this will be a teaching moment for them. It was not the place or time, there are many who are mourning.

What about when you're dragged away and arrested for opposing popular opinion? Would you like others to express outrage or should we just say it was deserved if we disagree with you? Because once you start saying events like this are okay, you can't pick and choose which opinions are and aren't acceptable, it won't be up to you.

Beefilm · 13/09/2022 15:24

I don't agree with their actions but no they should not be arrested. It feels rather sinister that they were.

LiveInSunshine · 13/09/2022 15:25

I’m unsure. We never get the full story until later I find.
The police seem to be saying you can protest and we’re being shown half info videos of it all to sway us into outrage about free speech. Maybe there was more to it? Maybe it was wrongful?
The man with blank placard was asked for details, but then it was dropped when he clarified he hadn’t been arrested before. There was nothing in the video about arrest and the advice he got was edited out.
Some may be attention seekers.
Was the guy shouting at Andrew arrested for that, or something happening in the argy bargy after he was pulled backwards? He seemed to need help from the police after

Freedomfighters · 13/09/2022 15:26

It's not appropriate behaviour. But I will always defend people's freedom of speech. They shouldn't be charged for this.

Lonelycrab · 13/09/2022 15:26

I don’t agree with the protestors, but I do strongly feel that they should be allowed to peacefully express an opinion.

I feel we’re on a very slippery slope in this country wrt freedom of speech. Soon only the correct opinions will be tolerated. Saying you do not agree with the monarchy is in no way hate speech.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 13/09/2022 15:26

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 13:55

Good. Some people are too stupid to be allowed out alone. Maybe this will be a teaching moment for them. It was not the place or time, there are many who are mourning.

An individual's freedom to mourn does not come at the expense of any other individual's freedom to protest, and while some people might find that distasteful or offensive, it's not against the law to express a different opinion simply because the other side objects to your timing.

This is the perfect 'time and place' to voice displeasure, given that we are seeing the utter ridiculousness of unelected hereditary monarchy and everything that goes hand-in-hand with it being played out in front of our eyes right now.

I suspect the people who have been arrested are likely being so for their own good, because there are too many people around who can't accept a difference of opinion without resorting to violence, as we've already witnessed with the two rotund halfwits who physically assaulted the young lad verbally mocking a known sexual predator.

The fact that some of them evidently are being charged, and not just moved on or released is chilling, and symptomatic of the sort of compelled veneration and restriction of thought we mock North Korea for.

jcyclops · 13/09/2022 15:26

I suppose all you defenders of free speech saying it was OK for the protester to shout abuse and he shouldn't have been arrested also support those who abuse women trying to access abortion clinics.

ChimChimeny · 13/09/2022 15:26

All it reads to me as is 22 year old arrested for having an opinion really.

Yes, scary isn't it. Especially a woman standing holding a placard silently, reminiscent of the early scenes in Russia of people being arrested for protesting against the Ukraine invasion