Organizers of an anti-monarchy protest have been arrested near the coronation procession route, their group has said.
Republic, Britain’s largest anti-monarchy activist group, said on Twitter that police “won’t say” why their demonstrators were detained. “So much for the right to peaceful protest,” the group said.
Republic earlier claimed it was expecting between 1,500 and 2,000 people to join the group at its protest in Trafalgar Square, just south of the royal procession route.
Instead of a coronation we want an election. Instead of Charles we want a choice. It’s that simple,” the group tweeted on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police has been scrutinized for its tough approach toward protests around the coronation.
“Our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low,” the force wrote on Twitter this week. “We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration.”
