Police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic and 51 others at King Charles’ coronation on Saturday, with officers saying their duty to prevent disruption outweighed the right to protest.
Hundreds of yellow-clad demonstrators gathered among the 10-deep crowds lining the procession route in central London to stand out from those clad in red, white and blue, and to hold up signs saying “Not My King”.
The Republic campaign group said its leader Graham Smith had been detained before the proces-sion began and photos circulated on social media showing police officers seizing the demonstrators’ placards.
“We absolutely understand public concern fol-lowing the arrests we made this morning,” Commander Karen Findlay of the London Metropolitan police said in a statement. “Over the past 24 hours there has been a signifi-cant police operation after we received information protesters were determined to disrupt the Coronation procession.”
Republic had vowed to mount the biggest protest against a British monarch in modern history and protesters booed as King Charles and Queen Camilla made their way to Westminster Abbey, and as the service was relayed publicly on large speakers.
“It is disgusting and massively over the top,” said Kevin John, 57, a salesman from Devon who was among the protesters.
“It is also hugely counterproductive by the police because all it has done is create a massive amount of publicity for us. It is completely crazy.”—AFP
