Arrests of UK anti-royal protesters spur free-speech debate

When you have a system that privileges certain people based on heredity, it’s not surprising that criticism of said system gets stifled.

Get rid of the monarchy and stop wasting taxpayer money on these clowns.

A Blank peice of paper is offensive? Only under the misguided "Law" of unintended consequences. All this could have the oposite efffect to that wished. This is incredible. We live in strange times. Scary.

When you have a system that privileges certain people based on heredity, it’s not surprising that criticism of said system gets stifled

To be fair it doesn’t in usual circumstances. 

That said, this kind of policing even in extraordinary circumstances is totally unacceptable. Banana republic crap.

Coldwar Steve on the money again:

https://twitter.com/coldwarsteve/status/1569784476082765824?s=46&t=_4zDfaynugIhkr959jYCVQ

Let people protest. If they’re not inciting violence or disrupting the lives of others, they’re not causing harm.

Here is another example of damned if you do damned if you don't.

If the police let them stay and continue then someone is killed, then it is failure by the police.

If the police tell people to move on or remove people then it is a police and government conspiracy to control the people.

So here is and example.

Police arrested vegan protesters then free them because people got upset and then they went right back to cause more damage and get arrested again.

So people blame the police.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11188949/amp/Animal-activists-spray-white-paint-Big-Ben-block-Westminster-Liz-Trusss-PMQs.html

No it is relevant because this is the cycle we now have, if the police do their job we get someone that goes nuts calling it outrageous. If the don't and someone gets hurt then again outrage,

We get terrorist, Mass murderers, violent felons, etc.. harming the public then if the police are not fast enough to stop them people complain, then if that person is injured or dies as a result of the police stoping them well then the police must be in the wrongs.

I sure wouldn't want the be a cops in today's society. But then most UK, USA and Canadian police forces are having trouble recruiting new officers, I wonder why.

So, there's no difference between Putin's Russia and the UK now? Scary times indeed....

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-invasion-protests-police-arrest-activists-holding-blank-signs-paper-1687603

@Antiquesaving.

Sorry, I can't get behind that logic. You're saying they were arrested in order to prevent a (possible) problem from happening.

That's not how the law is supposed to work. Should police go and arrest everybody in a bar, because one of them later on may drive home and injure someone? It's the same logic.

They were peacefully protesting, exercising freedom and free speech. The police were simply wrong here. They were not on private property, so they can't even use trespass as an excuse.

This is exactly what the Tory party want.

Very sad day in Britains history but as they plan to leave the court of human rights not really surprising.

A man faced the same charge after he heckled Prince Andrew as the queen’s hearse traveled through the Scottish capital.

The words the man used were..."Andrew, you are a sick old man." I can think of a lot worse.

In Oxford, peace activist Symon Hill was put in handcuffs after he shouted his opposition during a ceremonial proclamation of the new king.

In ancient time this person will be end up in dark basement.

Arrests of UK anti-royal protesters spur free-speech debate

So consider that that person still alive and well during modern time, it's a progress.

Our country fought to drive out the monarchy from America, those that wanted to live under royal rules,move too Canada, people have right too not recognized , people, too make them subject,I this will bring a end too Scotland,being a part of the UK

I'm not a royalist at all and I think prince Andrew is a disgusting individual, but I find it interesting that all of a sudden the msm cares about free speech and letting people speak their minds when it comes to criticising the the Queen and her family while having censored all those who dare to have a different opinion to the current narrative for a few years already.

The gentleman (he's a lawyer) with the blank piece of paper testing the water was in Parliament Square, the home of British government and a traditional site of protest. He was not outside Buckingham Palace, home of the Queen and now the main site of mourning, and cannot be accused of disturbing the peace. As for shouting "you sick old man" at a peadophile, I bet thousands of people want to do it, even if it is only one or two have the actual courage to do it. It is only privilege that is keeping Prince Andrew out of prison.

This is the UK not Hong Kong. The police were reminded by the Met Police Commissioner that protests are legal.

Unless causing a disturbance, like running out in front of moving cars they should not be arrested.

I have watched several on the TV and they were peaceful and by a single person each time.

the right to protest does remain a fundamental principle.”

Privilege and 12 million UK pounds paid to hush things up!

Yrral

Our country fought to drive out the monarchy from America, those that wanted to live under royal rules,move too Canada, people have right too not recognized , people, too make them subject,I this will bring a end too Scotland,being a part of the UK

You repeatedly post about that which happened 246 years ago.

The Brits actually left because they couldn't afford an extended war.

Scotland will remain in the UK along with the other two countries.

kurisupisu...

Privilege and 12 million UK pounds paid to hush things up!

They didn't tell us where the hush money came from. But at least Charles will be paying inheritance tax on the estimated £75 million he will get from his mother....

Only joking, A 1993 agreement means he will not be paying any tax at all. Only us common people pay tax.

This is the UK not Hong Kong. The police were reminded by the Met Police Commissioner that protests are legal.

a bit ironic, isn't it?

I mean the"return" to China was celebrated, now I bet those living in Hong Kong would welcome the little problems these anti Royal protesters have.

Each time I read stuff like this I say wait, wait for the other side to give information.

And in most cases "I was just standing with a sign" turns out to be "they were asked to move out of the way while blocking.....and refused".

Or "I just had a blank paper " turns into they were saying something about killing or bomb, or etc..." Then the person will say "it was just joking around".

This is the problem today, social media says something the MSM news gets criticized because it isn't reporting (usually because it used to wait for the full story) so it jumps on the story without all the info as to try and stay relevant.

It is like the man accused of R or terrorism the news and social media crucify him but when it is found to be not true or in error, well then either total silence or buried deep in the back pages.

Today you google people falsely accused 90% chance the first results will be the accusations.

It may take a lot of scrolling down before finding where it was all an error.

These days we get accusations towards the police for doing their job then in the same breath and same incident blamed for not doing their job.

I can just hear the same people here complaining about the police action in this case saying the following

"Why didn't the police move these people? Why were the permitted to remain there? Etc.......

if someone was attacked or killed during these incidents.

Everyone wants their cake and eat it too.

The cake is security but they also want no restrictions.

Mr Kipling

Today 10:05 am JST

It is interesting that so many point out stuff like you,

They point to the £120 million annually but forget to point out the billions generated by the Royals.

Forbes had a good article pointing this out.

Pre pandemic, the number one attraction for tourists to the UK was the Royals.

Honestly I can't think of much else that would.

And as we know despite the interruption due to the pandemic travel and services are the big future in most developed countries as manufacturing etc.. fades

Look at South Korea it doesn't even have a royal family left but uses the fake reconstructed palace and changing of the guards as a tourist attractions.

The UK makes a lot from just having them.

Now as for Canada, Australia NZ it brings them nothing so I see no point that they still retain this archaic system.

Only ignorant people are afraid of real history,you wonder why American ,have involved that people want live under our protection

Britain gets fewer tourists than Germany and less than half as many as France or Spain. Paris alone gets nearly as many visitors as the UK as a whole. If Japan gets going again, 40 odd million is in reach and would be enough to outperform the UK, especially post-Brexit UK where EU citizens will now have more hassles when visiting. The UK is not a tourism superpower, regardless of any effect projected onto the Royal Family by its supporters.

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-visited-countries

The Internet has greatly increased the reach of the English language and is a huge comparative advantage for the UK. For the UK to not be steaming ahead economically and with connected things like tourism is a failing.

The United Kingdom isn't as United as they think it is.

Who are ‘they’?

Which part of the UK are you from, mate?

The USA dream of the northern alliance is becoming perhaps possible.

That is a terrifying thought!

Antiquesaving....

Pre pandemic, the number one attraction for tourists to the UK was the Royals.

Nonsense, the chances of seeing a Royal let alone meeting one is very slim. The palaces will still be there.

The reasons foreign tourists flock to the UK are the delicious food, clean and on time trains, good weather and friendly people.

kohakuebisu

Today 11:00 am

Here is a sort article which summarizes the Forbes article.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1437145/how-much-money-does-the-royal-family-bring-in-to-uk-evg/amp

Note the:

Mr Haigh explained that unlike a celebrity family such as the Kardashians, the Windsors don’t personally profit from the business itself.

> However, they contributed an estimated £1.9 billion ($2.7 billion) annually to Britain's economy pre-pandemic.

> The Royal Household's contribution to the UK economy is mostly through tourism.

It is irrelevant if the UK gets few tourists than Spain, France etc... it is what it does get and how much it generates and why the tourists are going to the UK and the main reason is the royal family.

Your argument is like me saying Tokyo Disney Land maked million and has millions of visitors and you replying, "But Florida gets more and makes more money" totally irrelevant.

Mr Kipling

Today 11:15 am JST

Antiquesaving....

> Pre pandemic, the number one attraction for tourists to the UK was the Royals.

> Nonsense, the chances of seeing a Royal let alone meeting one is very slim. The palaces will still be there.

> The reasons foreign tourists flock to the UK are the delicious food, clean and on time trains, good weather and friendly people.

Seriously the food? Name one British dish other than fish and chips. The top food in the UK has consistently been Indian food!

You are aware that despite not seeing Royal the changing of the guard happens every day, so do a lot of things.

Royal memorabilia, the difference places, towers, etc..

As Forbes put it $2.7 billion pre pandemic.

And yes the chance of seeing a Royal is low so is the chance of seeing a Hollywood start but people go to these places with the idea that they might get lucky.

It is irrelevant if the UK gets few tourists than Spain, France etc.

No, it means that UK is staking far too much on an institution that doesn't bring in very many tourists compared to places without a Royal family.

10 million people a year visit Versailles, a palace without a royal family but one which you can go inside and see the good bits. You cannot do that at any of the best palaces in the UK. Versailles is outside Paris and a little awkward to get to. Buckingham Palace is slap bang in the middle of London.

Bigyen,the majority of people that support the monarchy,do not even know the history of something they support, American probably know more about it history,than British subject

Bigyen,The Puritans were not fans of the crown,they were believers of Devine rulers England,the English are insecure to teach American history in England

These protesters are harmless, just ignore them.

As the nation is advancing towards the state funeral, all reason, rational thought seems to be evaporating into angry intolerance.

Bigyen,The Puritans were not fans of the crown,they were believers of Devine rulers England,the English are insecure to teach American history in England

We learned European history rather than US history. It wasn’t a question of insecurity.

Much longer, much richer and much more interesting.

Dostoevsky rather than Harry Potter.

plasticmonkeyToday  07:12 am JST

When you have a system that privileges certain people based on heredity, it’s not surprising that criticism of said system gets stifled.

Get rid of the monarchy and stop wasting taxpayer money on these clowns.

This is the 21st century. It's totally ridiculous for a nation with no true empire to speak of anymore to even be going by this fairy tale charade, kowtowing to a family in high places just because of their heredity or bloodlines. And on special holidays they just ride in carriages and watch the military ('little people') from above, wearing funny ornate clothes.

Mr KiplingToday  08:59 am JST

A man faced the same charge after he heckled Prince Andrew as the queen’s hearse traveled through the Scottish capital.

The words the man used were..."Andrew, you are a sick old man." I can think of a lot worse.

Randy Andy is a disgusting individual and an absolute disgrace. A playboy who never really worked in his life, just fooling around on Brit commoners' tax money. And there's some icky things about the new King Chucky as well, esp. concerning what led to his divorce from Lady Di (she died 25 years ago this year) and his personal hobby of collecting loos.

Yrral

Today 11:48 am JST

As a Canadian I know more facts ( not USA fiction) about their history.

I have actually had to teach Americans about their own history and facts.

Most Americans think they won WW2 and the war Started in 1941 totally ignorant that the UK , Canada, The USSR etc... Had been at war for 2 years and the bulk of the fighting was done by the USSR.

Ask any American about it's involvement in the coups in Iran, Chile, Argentina, etc.. they are clueless.

Ask any American why Iran hates America and why Iranian students stormed the USA Embassy in 1979 and they are clueless.

Ask an American how the south was able to return to its ways (minus actual slaves) post civil war and 90% are clueless to the AKA Compromise of 1877.

Sorry but more Brit's know their actual history over any American.

Yrral

Today 12:14 pm JST

Bigyen,The Puritans were not fans of the crown,they were believers of Devine rulers England,the English are insecure to teach American history in England

Also not fans of the pope, Islam and anyone saying anything against or contrary to their beliefs not to mention fans of killing women for being witches !

Poor example.

Monarchy is the past,it pillars are death, deceit, treachery adultery Hail Hail Britannia

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, legislation that hands police, the home secretary greater powers to intervene in protests could be at the crux of action taken by the police to arrest deemed miscreants and agitators.

Although direst reference to this bill has not been stated/referred to in actions or arrests for breech of the peace in the matter of protests to date.

Yrral

Monarchy is the past,it pillars are death, deceit, treachery adultery Hail Hail Britannia

You have never experienced it so how would you know? I am not a monarchist.

As of 2022, there are 43 sovereign states in the world with a monarch as head of state.

If I had to choose between a Donald or an Elizebeth, I would go with Elizebeth.

Certainly, the British monarch system enforces the class system and everything that goes wit it. In America, there is a class system too. Based on wealth, and sometimes color.

Antiquesaving....

Here is a sort article which summarizes the Forbes article.

The article is from The Daily Express, the almost official propaganda sheet of the Royal family. Not to be taken seriously.

Windsor castle got just as many visitors when the Queen was present as when she was up in Scotland.

France is the country with the most foreign visitors in the world.... They haven't had a Royal family since the invention of the guillotine hundreds of years ago.

France is the country with the most foreign visitors in the world.... They haven't had a Royal family since the invention of the guillotine hundreds of years ago.

Actually they have.

The French would like us to think the didn't but they did give or take a few about 5 kings and 3 emperors.

Some lasted several years ( I may be wrong but I think one lasted 17 years or so) some only a few months ( more but they only lasted a few days.

But I get your point!

But he said it is “for the police to decide what is appropriate in individual circumstances.”

If it is a “fundamental right” then no, it ISN’T up to the police to decide on the spot. These people weren’t committing a crime, weren’t inciting a crime, and weren’t professing hate speech. They were expressing their personal disapproval of a relic of an institution.