The police had warned that they would have a “low” tolerance for attempts to disrupt the coronation of King Charles III: they made dozens of arrests in London ahead of the ceremony on Saturday, including six anti-monarchy activists. Police arrested “six of our organizers and seized hundreds of signs” bearing the slogan “Not my King” (not my king), told AFP a spokesman for the group Republic, of which hundreds of supporters were gathered early Saturday morning in Trafalgar Square, on the route of the procession.
The authorities “repress our legitimate right to demonstrate”
Republic President Graham Smith is among those arrested, the group said. “Free Graham Smith”, shouted the demonstrators on the spot, noted an AFP journalist. “That’s exactly why we’re here today. Because the monarchy represents everything that’s wrong with the UK: privilege, inequality and the lack of democracy,” Martin told AFP. Weegman, one of the anti-monarchy protesters.
Around hundreds of activists, displaying signs “Citizens not Subjects” (citizens, not subjects) or “Abolish the Monarchy”, half-amused, half-stunned defenders of royalty answered them with a “God save the King”. The environmental group Just Stop Oil also said that 19 of its activists had been arrested near the route planned for the procession. The group had planned to demonstrate on the occasion of the coronation to oppose the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the country.
The authorities “repress our legitimate right to demonstrate”, but “we will continue to do everything possible without violence to get out of oil and gas”, the group said in a statement sent to AFP. London police have confirmed seven arrests of people “on suspicion of various offenses including disturbing the public order and conspiring to disturb the public order in the vicinity of the coronation”.
Manifestations treated with a “low level of tolerance”
The arrests come after a senior police official, Christian Bunt, warned on Friday that protests that disrupt the coronation would be treated with “a lower level of tolerance”. The NGO Human Rights Watch denounced these arrests. “Reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly disturbing. It’s something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London,” the organization’s official told the United Kingdom, Yasmine Ahmed, in a statement.
Inaudible under the reign of Elizabeth II, who died last September, the republican movement intends to take advantage of the lesser popularity of Charles III to make its voice heard. According to a recent YouGov poll, the majority of Britons (58%) still favor keeping the monarchy, but that sentiment is declining among young people. Only 32% of 18-24 year olds are in favor compared to 38% who want an elected head of state (and 30% have no opinion).