#Quakers condemn arrests of #activists at meeting house
March 30, 2025
"The arrests of six female supporters of activist group #YouthDemand at a Quaker meeting house have been condemned by the faith group.
"Quakers in #Britain said the arrests were the first at a meeting house and 'an aggressive violation'.
"The Metropolitan Police said six people were arrested on Thursday evening at the Westminster Meeting House on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a #PublicNuisance.
"The force said it came amid concerns there were plans to 'shut down' London during April using tactics such as road blocks.
"Youth Demand said more than 30 officers were involved with making the arrests.
"Paul Parker, of Quakers in Britain, said he could not recall anyone being arrested at a Quaker meeting house in living memory.
"'The forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society #CriminalisesProtest.
"'#FreedomOfSpeech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins #democracy,' he said.
"Police said a further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday - four at addresses in #London and one in #Exeter.
"Youth Demand, which is not affiliated with the Quakers, said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent #CivilResistance actions' due to take place in April.
"The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on Thursday and Friday as part of the operation.
"Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to non-violent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against #injustice and for our planet.
"'Many have taken non-violent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of #slavery to women's #suffrage and prison reform.'
"The Met said the force understood the importance of the right to protest but added that Youth Demand had stated an intention to 'shut down' London in April.
"'We have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality,' a spokesman said.
"On Thursday, officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting where those in attendance were plotting their April action.
"Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
"A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter.
'Policing priorities'
"Out of the 11 people arrested, 10 have been released on bail and one will face no further action.
"Asked about the matter on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'I have made clear to the police this government's priorities for policing are reducing serious violence... and bringing back neighbourhood policing, those crimes in town centres like shoplifting.'
"Youth Demand, which describes itself as a 'new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to #genocide', began carrying out acts of #CivilDisobedience last year.
"Its demands of the government include stopping all trade with #Israel and raising money from 'the #SuperRich and #Fossilfuel #elite' to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning."
Read more:
https://bbc.com/news/articles/cj3x5j6g30ro
#UKPol #ThoughtCrime #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingActivism #PublicNuisanceLaws #Article20 #2023PublicOrderAct #Resistance #UKResistance #ProtectMotherEarth #FreePalestine #IsraeliWarCrimes
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![Leaflet with slogan "I don't want flowers, I want my Ukraine!" [ "Не хочу квітів, хочу мою Україну" ] and drawing of an Ukrainian woman hitting russian occupier with flowers. Hashtag: #зламавка.
Source: https://zlamavka.com/hochu-moyu-ukrayinu/](https://assets.chaos.social/media_attachments/files/114/129/177/730/628/798/original/61090f0868f7cf49.png "Leaflet with slogan \"I don't want flowers, I want my Ukraine!\" [ \"Не хочу квітів, хочу мою Україну\" ] and drawing of an Ukrainian woman hitting russian occupier with flowers. Hashtag: #зламавка.
Source: https://zlamavka.com/hochu-moyu-ukrayinu/")
![The black-and-white photograph captures a group of individuals participating in what appears to be an anti-government protest. Several people are holding up homemade signs with messages such as "Born just to kill? Finesheet," indicating critical or satirical commentary on the Vietnam War and related societal issues like economic reform, welfare rights, education funding during financial crises, and prison industrial complex expansion.
The expressions of those in the photo range from serious contemplation to smiling engagement. The individuals are dressed casually with jackets, sweaters, and casual shirts indicative of a grassroots or spontaneous gathering rather than an organized event by a specific political party or group. Some faces are partially obscured due to angle and perspective within the crowd's depth.
The setting seems to be indoors under artificial lighting as evidenced by shadows cast on the subjects' bodies and the surrounding architecture not clearly visible, suggesting this might have been taken in a warehouse or large industrial space repurposed for protest activities at that time. The overall composition of the image conveys a sense of activism and collective political expression during a period marked by significant social upheaval related to war involvement and domestic policy challenges.
This photograph is associated with Anti-Government Protest, which could be linked to specific historical period [...]](https://mastodon.ozioso.online/system/media_attachments/files/113/993/551/026/726/756/original/2a9c86d1a07d1317.jpeg "The black-and-white photograph captures a group of individuals participating in what appears to be an anti-government protest. Several people are holding up homemade signs with messages such as \"Born just to kill? Finesheet,\" indicating critical or satirical commentary on the Vietnam War and related societal issues like economic reform, welfare rights, education funding during financial crises, and prison industrial complex expansion.
The expressions of those in the photo range from serious contemplation to smiling engagement. The individuals are dressed casually with jackets, sweaters, and casual shirts indicative of a grassroots or spontaneous gathering rather than an organized event by a specific political party or group. Some faces are partially obscured due to angle and perspective within the crowd's depth.
The setting seems to be indoors under artificial lighting as evidenced by shadows cast on the subjects' bodies and the surrounding architecture not clearly visible, suggesting this might have been taken in a warehouse or large industrial space repurposed for protest activities at that time. The overall composition of the image conveys a sense of activism and collective political expression during a period marked by significant social upheaval related to war involvement and domestic policy challenges.
This photograph is associated with Anti-Government Protest, which could be linked to specific historical period [...]")
