Protesters charged

[Sapphire387]

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.

Wish they had arrested and charged extinction rebellion quickly....double standards

newsthump.com/2022/09/13/irish-priest-arrested-in-london-for-holding-down-with-this-sort-of-thing-sign/
Hopefully this doesn't qualify as hate speech. 😁

It's all about the appropriateness. We should always have free speech but that doesn't mean "say what you like, when you like".

Ie, no-one will be arrested (in this country) for an opinion, say they think Liverpool FC/King Charles/Jaffa Cakes are rubbish. If they write it in their diary and the police find it absolutely nothing will happen. In the same way, the people mentioned weren't arrested because of what their opinion was.

But when you choose to voice your free speech CAN count as breaching the peace, if you're likely to disturb someone. If I randomly say I think Liverpool FC is rubbish that's fine, shouting it at a Liverpool player's funeral would be obvious to upset people so I could rightly be arrested. Doesn't mean I don't have free speech, just that I can't disturb people with it!

Look, people have been arrested for protesting peacefully, the evidence is there, its been happening in a few places, the police are violating our right to expression, however what will/can be done about it? nothing theyll band together in their little sexist racist club and blame the public as usual, yes its offensive to democracy but theyll get away with it, i think its just best not to be caught up in it

I don't care that someone called PA a sick old man, but they probably had to do something due to the supporters in the crowd. even if you support what the was saying (or his right to do so it was a stupid place to do it.
Personally I would much prefer the police to be doing something about XR, the eco mob and the vegans that are damaging property and fucking up people's lives.

Looking forward to protesting at the Coronation.

I wonder what protests will be allowed?

Your degree in politics? From the University of Fantasyland?

What I find depressing about this website (and probably the whole country) is that only those who show left leaning views are allowed freedom of speech and the right to protest, the rest are derided as haters who, ironically, are themselves hated.

On this particular topic if those arrested don't support other people in the mourning for the passing of the monarch why not just stay at home or go for a coffee? I would say that these people are not protesters at all, they are simply shit stirrers.

Absolutely agree @MarieIVanArkleStinks - the UK took a step towards authoritarianism during COVID and concerned voices of dissent were shouted down by those terrified of a threat which we couldn't quantify. I honestly think many people were sucked into the big drama of "the killer virus" and felt it was nitpicking to query whether it was a good idea to have police stopping cars to ask drivers where they were going, or fllming hikers, or threatening people with arrest if they sat down in a park.

Then the police cynically used those same temporary powers to suppress a protest against their misogynistic culture and a few eyes opened. I don't think they will stop a big set-piece demonstration again after that outcry - but it does seem as though they feel empowered to clamp down any minor action that they might find awkward or irritating to deal with, often using the flawed guidelines on what might constitute a hate crime.

Your degree in politics? From the University of Fantasyland?

Russell Group actually.

Yep. This is a fucking disgrace.

Or even Liz Truss who could if she chose declare war on Russia tonight?

She can't, it's a Prerogative Power. See commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7166/

If the protesters had got lots of headlines and then been let off with a warning it would have been a green light for hundreds of other attention seekers - now they will think twice.

I think there will be a lot more people holding signs when it comes to the Coronation.

The police's actions have just made it worse. Like the Streisand effect

Mmm, I'm not sure how far this will act as a deterrent. Any upcoming court case will bring further publicity too.

Cakeorwine - What will your banner have on it? The Coronation won't be until next spring/summer so you have plenty of time to think of a good slogan.

A blank piece of paper. Probably enough to get you arrested in this country now.

Could you post a link to the British Constitution (and not the Wikipedia page)?

cakeorwine - Who's been arrested for holding up a blank piece of paper?

The Constitution is both written and unwritten, and where it is written it is in dozens of legal documents starting with the Magna Carta, as well as numerous Acts of Parliament, treaties and case law over the centuries. The unwritten bits are the conventions which include concepts like sovereign immunity.

Here is a quick crash course in some basics
www.massolit.io/courses/the-british-constitution

So now they are arresting (and charging) people for their own good?

You don't see how in a developed, democratic, non-dictatorial, non-fascist, liberal society, that might represent something of a significant problem?

This absolutely

Outrageous. Protest and protestors should always be protected from mob violence and overzealous policemen.

I'd prefer it if the uninterested member of the public were protected from protestors and their disruptive actions to be honest.

People mistake freedom of speech and freedom to protest for freedom to disrupt or alarm others. You're free to say pretty much what you like, you're free to protest, but those rights are not the same as being allowed to do or say what you like, where you like.

A funeral or procession of a coffin isn't the place to make a protest. I thought that became clear when that UDA guy attacked mourners at an IRA funeral in the 80s. Regardless of whether you were a republican or not, funerals are not the place for this sort of thing.

"The police don't arrest somebody, unless there are grounds to do so."

Oh my sweet summer child.

There really are some thick as fuck bootlickers around this week.