Activists, King III. He criticizes the actions of the police at events held to celebrate Charles’ accession to the throne.
Queen of England II. The arrest of anti-monarchy protesters following Elizabeth’s death is “deeply worrying”, warn freedom-of-expression advocates.
A man has been detained and subsequently released in Oxford, England, as Scottish police have arrested two people in recent days.
The arrests are to celebrate the death of the Queen and King III. It took place at events organized to proclaim the reign of Charles.
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In London, where queues are starting to form for the monarch’s funeral, the Metropolitan Police, the London police, say that people “have the right to protest”.
On Sunday (11/09), a 22-year-old woman was accused of harassing the public after she was arrested outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh during a proclamation of accession by King Charles.
He was later released and is expected to appear in court at a later date.
That same day, 45-year-old Symon Hill said, “Who chose you?” He was arrested on suspicion of public order crime. During another Ascension Proclamation in Oxford, England.
Thames Valley Police said he was later released and cooperated “voluntarily” with officers.
On Monday, a 22-year-old man was arrested for harassing the public after he allegedly harassed the Queen’s son, Prince Andrew, as the royal procession made its way along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Ruth Smeeth, CEO of Index on Censorship, said the arrests were “deeply worrying”.
“We must be wary of any accidental or deliberate use of this event to undermine the freedom of expression enjoyed by the citizens of this country in any way,” he said.
Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, said police officers “have a duty to uphold people’s right to protest, as well as to enforce people’s right to express solidarity, sadness or respect.”
“It’s very disturbing to see the police use their broad powers in such an oppressive and punitive manner,” said Jodie Beck, Liberty’s chief policy and campaign officer.
“Protest is not a gift from the state, it is a fundamental right,” he says.
Also Monday, a protester holding a “not my king” sign in front of parliament was removed by police before the monarch arrived at Westminster Hall.
The Metropolitan Police said a public had been asked to withdraw outside the Palace of Westminster “to facilitate vehicle entry and exit through the gates”, but had not been arrested or asked to leave the wider area.
The Metropolitan Police also responded to a video circulating on social media in which an officer was heard asking for details of a man holding a blank sheet of paper, expressing his intention to write “not my king”.
An officer from another force sent to reinforce the Metropolitan Police was heard saying the message “may disturb people”.
“The public has every right to protest, and we have made this clear to all officers involved in the extraordinary police operation that is currently underway,” Deputy Commissioner Stuart Cundy said in a statement.
Around 1,500 military personnel will work with police and civilian commissioners to manage the large numbers of people expected to gather in London next week.
The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mark Rowley, said his staff were facing a “great challenge”.
“We will have a safe event, but we will put in thousands of police officers as the level of security required and millions of people want to pay their respects,” he said.
A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Liz Truss declined to comment on the individual arrests, but said: “More generally, frankly this is a period of national mourning for the vast majority of the country.”
But the fundamental right to protest remains the cornerstone of our democracy.”
– This text was published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-62887023.
source: Noticias
