Questions raised by Met police raid on Quaker meeting house
A symptom often felt by people who are burgled is that their personal space has been invaded. When those who commit violence are those whose role is to protect us, it is doubly shattering. We were not present when the forced entry took place, yet the manner of it leaves us with a feeling of devastation and destruction of so much of what we have created. Of course it will be argued that the invasion of the space was a necessary evil, but I have to state with force that what we now suffer is real hurt, whereas the prevention of resistance in London is harm as yet not done.
While I have plenty of sympathy with the impossible, and quite likely painful, decision made by the police, places of real quiet and sanctuary are deeply needed in our society, and their invasion cannot be passed off as a necessary evil. Violence is violence, whoever commits it, and there is real loss here, real suffering, and real grief.Colum HaywardBarnes, London
The fact that I am in the House of Lords is undoubtedly linked to attending a Quaker school for seven years, where the notions of public service, non-violence and a belief in community were a paramount theme running through school life and lessons. Quakers have been at the forefront of many radical changes for the better, such as abolition of slavery and prison reform. The Youth Demand members who were the subject of a police raid continue a tradition.
This Labour government must not continue down the repressive route of the last government. We must take the opportunity to roll back the excesses of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023. Sue MillerLiberal Democrat, House of Lords
I suggest that Youth Demand hold their next meeting in Canterbury Cathedral. The optics of the agents of the crown forcing their way into that place of worship might be too much, even in these benighted days.Alastair CameronEdinburgh
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Man struck and killed on freeway after fleeing immigration agents, California official says
A man fleeing immigration authorities outside a Home Depot store in Southern California was struck and killed by an SUV when he ran across a nearby freeway, officials said. Monrovia police received a call Thursday about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. A responding officer saw ICE agents approaching the store and conducting enforcement activity there, City Manager Dylan Feik said in a statement. Monrovia is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. One man fled on foot and headed toward the nearby freeway, where he was struck by a vehicle, Feik said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died, the statement said. 'We extend our condolences for the individual and his family,' Feik said. The California Highway Patrol said the man was running across the lanes of eastbound Interstate 210 when he was struck by an SUV traveling about 50 or 60 miles (80 or 97 kilometers) per hour. The man's name was not immediately released pending the notification of family. The CHP said the crash is under investigation. Feik said he did not have information about the immigration operation or whether anyone was arrested. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wrote in an email that the agency was not notified of the incident until hours after operations in the area had concluded. 'This individual was not being pursued by any DHS law enforcement,' said the spokesperson, who was not named. The spokesperson did not respond to questions about the operation. The report is the second of a person being killed in Southern California while fleeing federal immigration enforcement authorities. Last month, a farmworker fell from a greenhouse roof during an immigration raid at a cannabis facility northwest of Los Angeles and died from his injuries. A vigil was planned for Friday by immigrant advocates, who denounced the widespread raids since President Donald Trump took office this year. Trump has stepped up enforcement in a crackdown on immigration with raids and a surge in immigration detention. Arrests have been reported at Home Depot stores, car washes, garment factories and other sites across Southern California, stoking widespread fear in immigrant communities. Last month, a federal court in Southern California temporarily blocked the Trump administration from carrying out indiscriminate sweeps. A hearing on the issue is set for September. George Lane, a Home Depot spokesperson, said in an email that the company isn't notified when immigration operations will take place and is not involved in them. Lane deferred questions to ICE.
BreakingNews.ie
26 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Serbia's police detain hundreds during violent anti-government protests
Serbia's police said they detained hundreds of demonstrators who took part in anti-government protests throughout the country this week. The arrests came amid reports of police brutality and excessive use of force during the unrest. Advertisement The three days of clashes between the police and loyalists of autocratic president Aleksandar Vucic on one side and the anti-government protesters on the other left dozens injured or detained. Serbian gendarmerie officers guard the street during an anti-government protest near the Serbian Progressive Party office in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP) The unrest in the capital, Belgrade, and throughout Serbia this week marked a serious escalation of more than nine months of largely peaceful demonstrations led by Serbia's university students that have shaken Mr Vucic's firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Another protest, under the slogan 'Let's show them we are not a punching bag', was held on Friday night throughout Serbia. Police deployed armoured vehicles in parts of the capital as protesters faced off against riot police separating them from Mr Vucic's supporters in downtown Belgrade. Advertisement The protests that have rattled Mr Vucic first started in November after a renovated train station canopy collapsed in Serbia's north, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blame the tragedy on alleged corruption-fuelled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Mr Vucic praised the police for their conduct during the latest demonstrations, saying he will propose additional bonuses for the officers. Speaking with state TV broadcaster RTS, he repeated his claim that the protests were inspired by the West with the intention of toppling him from power. He has not provided any evidence for the claim. Advertisement Several social media posts from this week show baton-wielding riot police beating people to the ground and then kicking them with their boots before they were handcuffed. Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hurl flares at anti-government protesters during an anti-government protest (Darko Vojinovic/AP) The apparent targets were often women and young people. Serbia's interior minister Ivica Dacic denied on Friday that police used excessive force, blaming the demonstrators for allegedly attacking the officers, who were protecting themselves with riot shields. 'The police were massively and brutally attacked without any provocation. There were violent attempts to breach the cordons,' Mr Dacic said. Advertisement 'Last night, 75 police officers were injured, and several vehicles were damaged. Those who spread lies about police brutality should comment on this fact.' Opposition leaders called for Mr Dacic to be removed from office. 'They are beating up people on the streets,' said opposition leader Dragan Djilas. 'They also beat up politicians, literally anyone who opposes Aleksandar Vucic, with the clear goal of inflicting serious bodily harm on them.' Advertisement Another social media video purported to show several young detainees kneeling with their faces to the wall as police officers stood to attention behind them. Some of the apparent detainees had bloodstains on their backs. The EU's commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos earlier this week said the reports of violence at the protests were 'deeply concerning'. Serbia is formally seeking EU membership, but Mr Vucic has maintained strong ties with Russia and China. The Serbian president has faced accusations of stifling democratic freedoms while allowing organised crime and corruption to flourish, which he has denied.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Rigging row erupts after Nigel Farage's demand for Reform peers in House of Lords is rebuffed
A RIGGING row has erupted after Labour rebuffed Nigel Farage's demand for Reform representation in the House of Lords. The Brexiteer has no peers in the upper chamber and asked Sir Keir Starmer to grant some. He sent a letter to the PM — who has ultimate say over appointments — arguing the 'seismic shifts' in British politics merits some Reform seats. Although they have just four MPs, Mr Farage's party is leading national opinion polls. He has in the past called for the Lords to be replaced with an elected chamber akin to that in the US. Mr Farage said: 'Whilst Reform UK believes in a reformed House of Lords, the time has come to address the democratic disparity there.' But Defence Secretary John Healey told LBC: 'This is the same Nigel Farage that called for the abolition of the House of Lords and now wants to fill it with his cronies. 'I'm not sure Parliament is going to benefit from more Putin apologists like Farage.' While PMs technically have the final say on House of Lords appointments, they grant opposition parties some peers. When Sir Keir nominated 30 Labour lords in December, he allowed six Tories to be elevated to the upper legislature. Hitting back at Mr Healey's remarks, Reform deputy Richard Tice last night accused Labour of not playing fair. Denying they were 'Putin apologists', he told The Sun: 'It's a democratic outrage and another old-fashioned establishment stitch-up. They are essentially rigging the system against the new party, changing the rules of the game.' Reform party leader Nigel Farage discusses immigration at Westminster press conference In his letter, Mr Farage noted Lib Dems have 76 peers but received 600,000 fewer votes than Reform last year. Sir Keir previously pledged to abolish the Lords but he is not expected to carry out plans before the next election. 1
