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.

“These people” are representative of a large section of society and you sound like a prejudiced bigot. I’d be interested to know what sort of protests you’ve attended with that attitude.

No better time to protest about this farce than on the day itself.

Oh, now it's not! Typical 🙄

It is not. Only the first page. Clearly you have not RTFT! (apologies if your posts are showing bold on every page, but definitely mine is first page only)

The bold has gone now!

It looks terrible to people who are predisposed to think it looks terrible. Most normal people agree with it. The Coronation will do massive TV ratings today and protesters should not be allowed to ruin it for everyone by making us all look bad.

I realise it is not a competition. I'm pointing out that noisy opposing views actually can meet in a manner that is healthy. It is a public event, to which anyone is entitled to come, and diversity of opinion should be embraced not shut down and arrested.

Fucking disgraceful. GroomedForSerfdom I couldn't agree more, the whole thing is a bloody farce.

They were going to a place that had been set aside and agreed for protestors.

That was not near "the theatre".

Maybe we should have bussed in supporters to line the route so the whole world can see how loved the King is.

We laugh at other countries who do this.

They are not at all. Most people either support the monarchy or are indifferent to it. Vehement anti-monarchists are an absolutely tiny section of society.

God forbid the world and the Monarchy should be allowed to see that not everyone agrees with the Monarchy.

@Notmybloodyking was a rhetorical 'can't' - choices.

It depends what else was in the van or, as has been alleged, wrapped round the placards. Chains, padlocks, handcuffs, superglue... All could be use to cause an obstruction.

The police are putting it about that they found those things. They have been known to lie on occasion. I don't know.

Arresting protestors when an agreed place had been pre arranged is a very bad look. It garners headlines and boosts anti monarchy views. I predict Charles friends will say he does not support these arrests.

It's fucking outrageous.

The whole area is crawling with police, they'd easily have been able to sort it out quickly if the protest became anything other than people. This is so heavy handed.

Everyone is well aware that not everyone agrees with the Monarchy.

It is not the protestors who are making us look bad. It’s the whole ridiculous circus that a large proportion of the population are annoyed by (to put it mildly). Compounded by the (already disgraced) metropolitan police arresting innocent people for unloading a placard.
It’s embarrassing on a global scale.

Monarchists want to pretend everyone agrees with them.

I don't understand why people are concerned about "the eyes of the world" watching.

Surely, allowing peaceful protest against the monarchy today is a fantastic way of showcasing our "British values" of democracy, individual liberty, respect and tolerance and the rule of law. This should be what sets us apart from totalitarian states like North Korea.

Instead, we are projecting an image to the world of a country which no longer allows people the liberty to express their democratic views peacefully. A country which does not respect differences of opinion and does not tolerate dissent. A country where heavy-handed and over-zealous police can arrest people who have not actually committed any crime just because they might do something wrong.

Is this the image of Britain that we want the world to see?

2bazookas there was supposed to be a designated area for peaceful protesters. Anyone who is offended by that needs to give their head a serious wobble. Since when has it been compulsory to lick Mr Windsor's boots, so to speak?

This is not (yet) North Korea.

Whether you think it’s a good idea is irrelevant.
whether u
other anti groups aren’t peaceful is also irrelevant.

this is about suppression of the right to protest.

Are you serious or just a muppet?

It looks terrible to people who are predisposed to think it looks terrible. Most normal people agree with it. The Coronation will do massive TV ratings today and protesters should not be allowed to ruin it for everyone by making us all look bad.

By normal people do you mean wannabe Stasi? If there was a huge Republican parade I would have no problem with ardent Royalists being allowed to protest peacefully. Why shouldn't they? The right to protest is so incredibly important, no matter what side you're on. It should be protected and it's disturbing and depressing that so few people seemingly value that right and not only that, actively want to remove that right for people whom they disagree with.

They can't arrest the anti abortion protestors outside hospitals who are harassing women who are seeking abortion services but can arrest the people holding a peaceful protest against the monarchy because the world is watching.

That is messed up.

I am abroad, I have checked out our national news and it is all about the King and the Coronation, so far no reports of any protests or arrests. So not widely reported at all, If it does get reported it will be eclipsed by the reporting of the Coronation itself.

The Monarchy is well aware that not everyone is in support of them why do you think they have such a powerful pr team

Our pomp and ceremony is admired the world over no one is being forced to take part unlike in China and North Korea