In addition to a lot of enthusiasm for the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. there have also been protests against the monarchy in Britain. There were several arrests in London. Civil rights activists criticized the actions of the police.
During protests against the coronation of King Charles III. several people have been arrested in London, the police confirmed. “The people are being held on suspicion of breach of the peace,” the police said. Four people had previously been arrested who had objects to chain with them. “You are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public disturbance,” it said. There was initially no indication of how many people were arrested in total.
In London, hundreds of people gathered not far from the procession route and protested, chanting “Down with the Crown”. The London police had previously announced a rigorous crackdown on people who they believed wanted to disrupt the coronation.
Criticism by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch strongly criticized the arrests. “This is something you would expect in Moscow, but not in London,” Yasmine Ahmed, head of the human rights organization’s UK branch, said in a statement. “Peaceful protests allow people to hold those in power accountable. It’s something the UK government seems increasingly reluctant to do.”
Civil rights activist Peter Tatchell tweeted that the police had erected huge barriers to cover banners critical of the monarchy. “The right to peaceful protest suppressed. Shame!”
“Down with monarchy” – Opponents of the royals took to the streets on the coronation weekend.
Leader of anti-monarchy group arrested
It had previously become known that several members of the anti-monarchy group “Republic” had been arrested in London. The group said: “They arrested six of our organizers and confiscated hundreds of posters,” an activist told the AFP news agency. And further: “They don’t tell us why they arrested them or where they are being held,” he added.
Among those arrested was Republic leader Graham Smith. The group was arrested before they could hold up placards reading “Not My King.”
demonstrations in several UK cities
Opponents of the monarchy used the day for protests not only in London and took to the streets in several British cities. In the Welsh capital of Cardiff, for example, hundreds demonstrated on a protest march and shouted “God Save the Poor” (God save the poor) instead of the traditional “God Save the King” (God save the king).
In the Scottish city of Glasgow, a demonstration by pro-independence supporters with thousands of participants also criticized the royals. Protests were also called for in the capital, Edinburgh. Polls had revealed a majority of people in Scotland to be indifferent, with almost three quarters saying they were not interested in the coronation.