Arrested for holding a banner - can't ruin a big day, can we...

[cakeorwine]

'Not My King' protesters unfurl flags and shout anti-monarchy slogans on Coronation route | Daily Mail Online

Looks like the police are taking full advantage of their new powers.

Thank you Met Police you have shot yourselves in the foot and damaged the monarchy by your actions today. Republic has just smashed through their fundraising target 13 days early and many more are joining and the world's press are following the story. LBC has been running this story for the last few hours, and you really can't buy this publicity for the cause. More than 50% of the under 45s believe we shouldn't have a monarchy a figure that can only grow.

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/police-arresting-protesters-is-the-nightmarish-image-that-will-tarnish-the-coronation-2323348?ito=twitter_share_article-top

Did the Suffragettes actually get us the vote? Funny how it happened in 1918 when they stopped their actions in 1914. There was a war, women stepped in to do jobs previously seen as men's work and towards the end of the war they were rewarded with some women getting the vote.

The suffragists did continue their peaceful campaign throughout the war. The suffragists seem to be overlooked as do the people who died because of the suffragettes actions.

Personally I stand on the shoulders of the hardworking women who showed their worth during the war and not the suffragettes and the chaos and deaths they caused.

The police have chosen- well the government have chosen this stance towards protest, and underpaid and abused police officers have to enforce it.

They both played their roles - movements for major social change against entrenched interests are nearly always messy. I would have to gen up more on the history to answer that authoritatively though and besides Republic are totally peaceful and seeking to act within the law to effect change by democratic means. Thanks for the heads-up though I shall go away and do some more research. Knowledge is power.

Vera99 - Well that should please Graham Smith. Out of interest as CEO of that organisation does he get a salary from it and if so how much?

True though they do have some degree of operational autonomy or did pre Patel/Braverman. Back in my rebel days the chant was "we're only doing our jobs," followed by lapel hugging and a crouch ! Reminds me of the CJA protests and 'repetitive beats' back in the early 80s under Michael Howard where we did some naughty things indeed and the police used a sledgehammer to smash a nut.

I really don't care. I hope so. Bit of an incongruous question given the £250million spent on today's malarkey.

He is a full time organizer I shall have a look and report back. I imagine his life is being crawled over in minute detail by the authorities and if there are any skeletons we will be hearing about them soon. I do hope not he seems like a very reasonable educated fellow that is prepared to fight for his principles and contribute to a democratic movement for change.

I'm sure Putin and the Iranian leaders leaders agree with you - let's not allow free speech, human rights, or anything else get in the way of a good show. I wasn't asked if I wanted to pay for it. If the monarchy can be damaged or overthrown by a few people with placards, then it doesn't deserve to exist.

Oh yes!

Exactly

https://www.republic.org.uk/about

From what I can gather he isn't paid or wasn't in the past not that that matters it's not about people but principles as Tony Benn used to say or "isshoooss"

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05891072/filing-history

Ok. You're not into the monarchy. That's fine. But why try to ruin everyone's day?

I remember when we all had different opinions, but we stayed out of other people's affairs.

People who like horse racing went there - and the people who didn't like it went somewhere else.

These days, some people seem to have nothing else in their lives other than objecting to the way that other people are living theirs and they feel the need to try to ruin it. If you really have nothing to add, just stay home.

It isn't about ruining anyone's day. It's about having the freedom to protest against something you are opposed to. Monarchists don't have a right to a banner-free party enshrined in law.

Your horse racing analogy is flawed - people have always protested against it on animal cruelty grounds (and rightly so).

I'm with the protesters here - it's my tax money being wasted on this and I have had no say in whether or not I wanted to contribute to this flag waving nationalist charade.

Just leave other people alone.

Roussette - You hope Graham Smith gets paid, so how much do you think he should be paid then.

A hugely expensive and unnecessary coronation which impacts on our constitutional rights as citizens does seem a reasonable and apposite event for republican protest. To coin a phrase - if not now…when?

No idea

But we need push back and he is a reasonable guy who's been interviewed on all the mainstream news channels at different times. BBC not sure about, possibly, too tired to look now

Good. They should clamp down harder.

Yeah let's stop protest and free speech.

Let's hang portraits of Charles everywhere...oh, hang on... That's happening

Far less than the King and his lackeys whose funding isn't voluntary unlike Mr Smith. I've said before the monarchy would be much more palatable if those that wanted it paid for it and didn't foist the cost onto the increasing numbers that don't and then tell us to shut up.

There is a time and a place for protest and a once in a lifetime event like the Coronation is not it. They were just trying to spoil a special day for everyone. How would people feel if protesters showed up to their wedding and tried to disrupt it?

vera99 - Of course it matters how much Graham Smith gets paid. Isn't the organisation's money all from donations by the public. If I was ever persuaded to become a republican and donated to the cause I'd like to know how much of my money was going to fund Smith's lifestyle.

What would that look like - mass arrests and detention without trial, boot boy tactics ? Putin does that very well in the early days of the war he arrested thousands and imprisoned and beat up hundreds soon nipped that in the bud.

When is a good time to protest then?

No time is a good time going by what you're saying

How about today?