More than 500 people took part in mass civil disobedience against the ban. The police had claimed they would arrest everyone, but failed to remove the majority within the first hour of protest.
They only arrested the people that stayed to get nicked. Within the hour of the protest less than 100 people were arrested. Most who were arrested never went to a police station, only to a gazebo where they were given bail not to partake in any Palestine related protests and then sent on their way. No charges etc so far.
The police themselves must feel like utter burks “arresting” people like that. It undermines their authority doing stuff like that. Like everyone they are photographed parking is a disabled space.
The problem is it kind of will put people off attending because a lot of people can’t risk getting arrested. I’m pretty sure I would get fired even if the arrest was BS political nonsense.
It’s always a mix at events like this. I heard from friends who were arrested that while some officers were violent, most people weren’t cuffed (which is unusual for protests like this) and one arestee had this to say about their arrest:
When I was taken to a room for interview at the Police Station, there was a plain clothes officer who I later discovered was from an anti terrorism unit.
As my HJA solicitor and the other officer were still outside the room I was alone with this officer for a few seconds he spoke directly to me. " let’s get this crap done, I’ve done some pretty crap things but this has to be the worst."
The " No comment" interview followed and when the recording was completed,I apologised for my blank response to all their questions. Both officers responded in the kindest way by saying please don’t worry we know it’s what you have to do.
They only arrested the people that stayed to get nicked. Within the hour of the protest less than 100 people were arrested. Most who were arrested never went to a police station, only to a gazebo where they were given bail not to partake in any Palestine related protests and then sent on their way. No charges etc so far.
The police themselves must feel like utter burks “arresting” people like that. It undermines their authority doing stuff like that. Like everyone they are photographed parking is a disabled space.
it’s the begining of the end for this implementation of the law if these protests continue.
The problem is it kind of will put people off attending because a lot of people can’t risk getting arrested. I’m pretty sure I would get fired even if the arrest was BS political nonsense.
Yes, this is how political intimation works. I’m pretty sure Yvette knows this.
It’s always a mix at events like this. I heard from friends who were arrested that while some officers were violent, most people weren’t cuffed (which is unusual for protests like this) and one arestee had this to say about their arrest: