It had never happened during the reign of Elizabeth II but it is the new scenario since the assumption of Carlos III. ‘Not my king’, ‘Abolition of the monarchy’, read posters at some of the new king’s appearances, including his inaugural tour.
On the rainy day of the coronation, the anti-monarchists had tried to reach Trafalgar Square, near the equestrian monument of George IV, in one of the most tourist attractions in London. But British police arrested 56 people who tried to protest against the monarchy and the king, in the country where the freedom to express one’s differences is a sacred right.
“Totalitarian Tactics”
Police have been accused of using “totalitarian” tactics after arresting 52 people in a series of pre-emptive attacks during the coronation.
The most famous detainee was the leader of the anti-royal group Republic, which had been in contact with Scotland Yard over its peaceful protest plans.
Among them were 14 animal rights activists, detained within 6 kilometers of the ceremonies in Westminster.
Metropolitan Police chiefs had previously warned they would have “extremely little room” for disruption and would rapidly roll out new public order laws.
Just Stop Oil said 20 members had been arrested and accused police of a “shameful excess of action”.
republican prisoners
The arrests began shortly after 7 in the morning. It was then that Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, and five other protesters were arrested as they unloaded “Not My King” banners from a van near Trafalgar Square, where the group had planned to gather around 1,500 supporters. when asked about the arrests he said, “I’m not going to get into a conversation about this. I’m under arrest. END.”
Metro Police also confirmed they arrested two women and a man in Soho at 2am on Saturday.
Those arrested are believed to be members of the City of Westminster’s night security team, who carry anti-rape alarms to hand out to women. A serious mistake by the policeat a royal party, where two million people and many drunks were expected.
“We have received intelligence indicating that groups and individuals seeking to disrupt the coronation proceedings were planning to use tamper alarms to disrupt the procession. There was particular concern from military colleagues that this would frighten the horses involved in the procession. As a result, it would cause a significant risk to the safety of the public and motorcyclists”, explained the Metropolitan Police to justify the arrests.
All were released on bail, pending further investigations.
“It’s shocking,” said Luke Whiting, another Republican protest leader, of the 52 arrests. “We have told the police what we intend to do.”
Kathy Lette, the Australian writer and friend of Queen Camilla, told reporters that her daughter, Georgie, was planning to take part in the protest, before saying: ‘She’s probably been arrested!’ “Where is your democracy, when you arrest protesters walking silently with banners?” she asked.
Police said six people were arrested near Trafalgar Square on charges of conspiring to cause a public nuisance. They added that they had seized equipment intended by the demonstrators to “block” the street furniture, a claim denied by the Republic.
Interior Minister Suella Braverman dismissed the anti-government protests, saying “the balance was right”.
The Guardian’s Vision
Polly Toynbee, a leading Guardian columnist, commented on the police action today.
“The king never said, ‘Who will deliver me from this troublesome republican?’ Of course not. No doubt he was wringing his hands in pain at the sheer stupidity of the police, who arrested the Head of the Republic Graham Smith and others unloading harmless ‘Not My King’ banners on the morning of the coronation. your cause! A letter from the police had warned them that ‘tolerance will be low.’ But they never said it would be at absolute zero, under the new anti-protest laws,” Polly wrote, as the British were recovering from a long party.
“The homemade sign, which may have captured the mood of many, simply said, ‘Don’t you think that’s a bit silly?’ Oh, but that’s what we do so well! We invite the world to see us in our sumptuously gilded splendour, putting on the greatest military display in 70 years, while commentators gloated over and over again, so that no visitor will guess that our army is one-fifth its size at all. last coronation. Continuous.
“The bigger the show, the more there is to mask the emptiness of its meaning. Cheers to Ruritania at its most gloriously stupid!” greeted the famous columnist.
Meghan, the idol of the anti-monarchists
In this coronation where there was more gold and red than in an Indian wedding, the anti-monarchists they seized the figure of Meghanthe Duchess of Sussex who self-exiled in California together with Harry, the fifth prince in the line of succession, is not good news for the rebels of the Royal Family, excluded from any type of celebration.
With her face painted in colored pencils or a photo on the card, it read: “Meghan, Princess of the People.” An interpretation of ‘Diana, Princess of the People’ as Prime Minister Tony Blair christened Diana, the Frustrated Queen, in his eulogy. It was when the royal family was still secluded in Balmoral Palace without wanting to go down to London to pay their respects and the subjects were furious at her absence: “Where is your Majesty?” asked the royal-worshipping tabloids.
Arrest against freedom of expression
Just Stop Oil, which had previously shut down traffic in London in a series of “slow marches”, said 18 of its activists, including a doctor, were arrested at around 9.30am in The Mall and near Downing Street.
“No disruptive action was planned; supporters had no intention of jumping over the barrier. They merely flashed their T-shirts and held up ‘Just Stop Oil’ flags.”
Police said several people were arrested “on charges of possessing objects likely to cause criminal damage and on charges of disturbing the peace”.
In Hackney, east London, Animal Rising, the animal rights wing of Extinction Rebellion, said 14 members were detained by police, during a weekly non-violent protest training session.
Nathan McGovern, a spokesman for the group, which recently delayed the start of the Grand National race, said neither had planned to travel to Westminster.
“This is nothing more than a totalitarian crackdown on free speech and all forms of dissent,” he said.
Human Rights Watch, the human rights organization, was blunt: “This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London.”
Commander Karen Findlay, who led the Met police operation, justified herself: “We check proportionally and in the context of the event. This is a once-in-a-generation moment and was a key consideration at a pivotal time.
The new police powers
The Public Order Act received royal assent on Friday. But new police officers to deal with protests and criminal offenses created by the law won’t go into effect for another couple of months. However, yesterday the police had special powers.
Oliver Dowden, the deputy prime minister, said last week that intelligence suggested protesters may be trying to scare the horses at Saturday’s ceremonial procession. The Home Office has written to protest groups informing them of the changes in the law.
In a letter to the Republic, which is fighting for the abolition of the monarchy, the Police Powers Unit said the new powers were introduced to prevent “the disruption of major sporting and cultural events”.
“I would appreciate it if you would publish and forward this letter to your members who may be affected by these legislative changes,” he said.
After the letter, the arrests, which today scandalize the British.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.