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66
msisfine · 06/05/2023 08:37

It's disgusting, the right to protest is fundamental to a healthy democracy.

Mayorquimby2 · 06/05/2023 08:38

This shit is really fucking worrying for your country

Original poster
cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 08:40

Turns out the Head of Republic was arrested

Head of UK’s leading anti-monarchy group arrested at coronation protest | King Charles coronation | The Guardian

Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, had been collecting drinks and placards for demonstrators at the main site of the protest on Trafalgar Square when he was detained by police on the Strand in central London.

The group had been walking behind a rental van full of hundreds of placards when they were stopped by police. The Met police had tweeted earlier this week that they would have a “low tolerance” of those seeking to “undermine” the day.
Harry Stratton, a director at Republic, who arrived as Smith and the others were detained, said: “They were collecting the placards and bringing them over when the police stopped them.
“The guys asked why and they were told: we will tell you that once we have searched the vehicle. That’s when they arrested the six organisers. We asked on what grounds they had been arrested but they wouldn’t say. It is a surprise as we had had a number of meetings with the police. They had been making all the right noises”.

Head of UK’s leading anti-monarchy group arrested at coronation protest

Republic’s Graham Smith held at protest on King Charles III’s procession route in central London

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/06/head-of-uks-leading-anti-monarchy-group-arrested-at-coronation-protest

OP posts:
Nousernamesleftatall · 06/05/2023 08:41

Ridiculous.

Theunamedcat · 06/05/2023 08:41

Why is anyone surprised? They ate arresting people most likely to cause an issue

Username0987 · 06/05/2023 08:43

Disgusting. No wonder Charlie was quick to sign off the new law just in time for his big day.

Original poster
cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 08:44

Arresting people who are leaders of a cause is the best way to increase support for that cause from people who may not have been too bothered about it but had some belief in that cause.

OP posts:
roarfeckingroarr · 06/05/2023 08:48

I'm not in favour of arresting people for peaceful protest at all but I've no problem with them being moved on. It's a huge day with much of the world watching. Let's have the spectacle (that we're paying for) without disruption.

Alargeoneplease89 · 06/05/2023 08:50

Its not really a good idea being surrounded by a lot of pro monarchy people which means police will have to deal with the anger on both sides... let's face it the antis aren't known for being peaceful.

It's one day, I don't understand why you would go through so much effort to say "not my king", it would be like me turning up to a JC talk to say "have a wash".

OneFrenchEgg · 06/05/2023 08:51

But they can't arrest the just stop oil and extortion rebellion people? The optics are terrible whatever the truth.
Sit in the road and stop traffic and ambulances and the police will stop motorists trying to move you.
Peacefully object to a bloody awful system of soft power and get arrested.

Bloopsie · 06/05/2023 08:53

roarfeckingroarr · 06/05/2023 08:48

I'm not in favour of arresting people for peaceful protest at all but I've no problem with them being moved on. It's a huge day with much of the world watching. Let's have the spectacle (that we're paying for) without disruption.

Thats the point you are missing not everyone wants to pay for this spectable but we are made to, i dont celebrate friends of people who mess around with kids

mynameiscalypso · 06/05/2023 08:54

Theunamedcat · 06/05/2023 08:41

Why is anyone surprised? They ate arresting people most likely to cause an issue

You can't generally arrest people before they've actually committed a crime...

Original poster
cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 08:54

The police can arrest you if they think you are going to be disruptive now.
Or if they think you are going prepared to cause disruption - if you have a chain and padlocks in your car, that could be enough

OP posts:
pointythings · 06/05/2023 08:54

So much for freeom of speech in the UK. Absolutely pathetic from the police, these people were not doing anything disruptive.

And as an aside, why is this entire thread in bold?

mynameiscalypso · 06/05/2023 08:57

cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 08:54

The police can arrest you if they think you are going to be disruptive now.
Or if they think you are going prepared to cause disruption - if you have a chain and padlocks in your car, that could be enough

I know, this new law is total bullshit and makes me so cross.

XBealtaine · 06/05/2023 08:59

Do they have the right to protest today though?

Is every day equal or can they be democratically prevented from protesting this one day out of 365 in 70 years? I'm Irish, so hardly invested in to the longevity of the monarchy but ruining a day that means a lot to other people, is that about exercising a democratic right ? or about ruining something a slight majority (?) wants. Like I say, I don't understand how the nuances of all of that are democratic or anti-democratic..

Novella4 · 06/05/2023 08:59

Im actually shocked by this
I know I shouldn't be but I am

The peaceful protest was known to the police and a spot arranged

Now this

British justice and fair play ?

They must be very afraid of the true feeling if the people if they arrest peaceful protest against the waste of the coronation

Original poster
cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 08:59

mynameiscalypso · 06/05/2023 08:54

You can't generally arrest people before they've actually committed a crime...

Show quote history

It's now a crime to be someone who wants to protest.

If they think you are going to cause a disruption

OP posts:
XBealtaine · 06/05/2023 09:00

I think the protester who threw eggs at King charles was treated appallingly btw. It's just, with a democracy, are you free to disrupt a day that the majority want to see have no disruption?

ssd · 06/05/2023 09:03

We are the first country to criticise the likes of China and North Korea for their lack of democracy....but behind the scenes our country is being turned into something similar

Whatt · 06/05/2023 09:04

Why is everything in bold?

MolkosTeenageAngst · 06/05/2023 09:05

The right to protest within a democracy is fundamental. The right to protest against an outdated undemocratic monarchy who have power by birth alone even more so. It’s reasonable not to want such an archaic way of running a country but if we can’t even protest how could things ever change?*

Original poster
cakeorwine · 06/05/2023 09:06

I hope politicians are asked if we have the right to protest anymore.

I hope this is on BBC Question Time.

OP posts:
spottybug · 06/05/2023 09:06

I can't read this thread as the bold hurts my eyes but it looked interesting sorry. I will read the articles.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 06/05/2023 09:10

c So it’s fine to hurl abuse, death threats and occasionally actual objects at women who are meeting at a permitted and traditional venue to talk peacefully about their rights, but no one must show their disdain for Charlie and the ……woman accompanying him.

Say hello to the Stasi.