London police recognized the right to demonstrate against the monarchy after video showed officers escorting a protester and arrests in other parts of the UK since Elizabeth II’s death.
“Citizens have every right to protest, we have made it clear to all the agents involved in the extraordinary police operation that is currently being carried out and we will continue to do so,” said the Metropolitan Police.
The statement was issued late Monday in response to a video of officers escorting a protester outside parliament, where King Charles III was due to receive condolences on the death of his mother in the morning.
Outside, two protesters held signs reading “Not my king,” “Abolish the monarchy” and “Stop feudalism” on the pavement outside the Palace of Westminster, the parliament building.
One of them then approached the doors and was escorted by police, according to images published on Twitter by the Evening Standard newspaper, which meanwhile circulate on social networks generating criticism of the police.
This incident followed two more in Scotland, one on Sunday when a woman was arrested for disorderly conduct holding a sign reading “Fuck imperialism, I abolished the monarchy” moments before the public proclamation of the new king, accompanied by screams of other people.
The woman was released to appear later in court.
Also in Edinburgh on Monday, a man was violently snatched by officers from the crowd watching the funeral procession when he called Prince Andrew a “disgusting old man” who paid millions of euros in the US to avoid a sexual abuse trial. . abuse of a minor.
In Oxford, central England, a 45-year-old activist was briefly detained after shouting “Who elected him?” also during a public proclamation of the king.
The civil rights organization “Big Brother Watch” denounced the recent arrests as “an affront to democracy”, stressing that “freedom of expression is the foundation of British democracy”.
According to a survey published on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the reign in June by the YouGov institute, 62% of Britons believe that the country should remain a monarchy and only 22% said they prefer an elected head of state.
The UK is currently in a period of national mourning following the death of Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after reigning over 70 years, the longest reign in UK history. United.
After the death of the monarch, his eldest son, 73 years old, assumed the position of king as Carlos III.
Source: TSF
