Protesters accused of planning to disrupt State Opening of Parliament arrested
Supporters of protest group Youth Demand were arrested in central London after they announced plans to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.
The Metropolitan Police said 43 activists were arrested in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance on Wednesday morning.
“The arrests prevented any serious disruption to the State Opening of Parliament, helping to ensure the event took place without incident,” the force said.
There’s a significant policing presence in central London ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.
Last week, Youth Demand said they planned to disrupt the event.
An hour ago, officers arrested 10 of them in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 17, 2024
The arrests followed a protest by the group, which is calling for action on climate change as well as an end to the sale of UK weapons to Israel, near the Cenotaph on Monday.
Youth Demand said some protesters were arrested in a branch of Leon at around 9.15am, after which demonstrators who planned to march towards Parliament were detained.
A spokesperson said: “When political leaders don’t have the guts or the moral backbone to lift a finger for the people of Palestine after months of public outcry, it becomes clear how broken our political system is. Meanwhile the police protect those in power making the decisions that are destroying people’s lives.
“It is increasingly obvious to ordinary people that the only way we are going to see meaningful change is through civil disobedience.
“The Government must protect life here and abroad by seeing an immediate halt to weapons trading with Israel and an immediate cancellation of all fossil fuel licences granted by the Tories since 2021.”
Youth Demand announced on X, formerly Twitter, last week that it planned to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.
In the first of a series of entries, the group said: “Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire. But we need actions, not words.
“That’s why Youth Demand will disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.”
🚨 BREAKING: YOUTH DEMAND LAY PALESTINE FLAG & PAINT NEXT TO CENOTAPH
Never again means never again. Everything that the cenotaph stands for is contrary to the Labour government allowing companies to profit from genocide.
Help us take action ->https://t.co/Fyk6gk3Y3j pic.twitter.com/zrGYH1pccw
— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) July 15, 2024
It went on to say: “We disrupt because it is our duty to fight back in every way we non-violently can, and because we refuse to despair, but instead are full of hope that another way is possible.”