Latest news with #QuakersinBritain
New York Times
30-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
London Police Arrest Gaza Protest Planners at Quaker House
Quakers in Britain are reeling from what they say is an unheard-of violation of one of their places of worship by police officers who forced their way into a meeting house in London and arrested activists gathered there to plan Gaza war protests. 'No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory,' Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said in a statement issued after the raid. But on Thursday evening, the pacifist group said, more than 20 uniformed police officers, some armed with tasers, forced their way into the meeting house in Westminster, breaking open the front door 'without warning or ringing the bell.' The officers searched the building and arrested six women at a gathering of Youth Demand, an unaffiliated activist group that was renting a room to meet in, the Quakers in Britain said. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests followed Youth Demand's plans to 'shut down' London with protests next month, according to British media. The police said that while they recognized the right to protest, 'we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality,' British media reported. The arrests raised alarms in England, and came amid a crackdown on Gaza War protesters in the United States, especially on college campuses, where some students have denounced Israel's prosecution of the war against Hamas. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Youth Demand arrests at Quakers meeting house condemned
The Quakers in Britain group has condemned the arrests of six Youth Demand supporters, saying they were the first at a meeting house "in living memory".More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at about 19:30 GMT on Thursday, Youth Demand Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, called the visit from police an "aggressive violation".The Metropolitan Police said Youth Demand had stated an intention to "shut down" London during April using tactics including road blocks. Mr Parker said he could not recall anyone being arrested at a Quaker meeting house in living memory."The forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest."Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy," he said. Asked about the matter on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "I have made clear to the police this government's priorities for policing are reducing serious violence... and bringing back neighbourhood policing, those crimes in town centres like shoplifting."Those arrested at the meeting house were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said. Youth Demand said the meeting was "an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions" due to take place in group claimed a number of houses were also raided on Thursday and Friday as part of the in Britain said: "Quakers support the right to non-violent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet."Many have taken non-violent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage and prison reform."Youth Demand, which describes itself as a "new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide", began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last demands of the government include stopping all trade with Israel and raising money from "the super rich and fossil fuel elite" to pay damages for the effects of fossil fuel burning. Previous demonstrations by Youth Demand included three people hanging a banner and laying rows of children's shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer's home in April last year, following which three people in their 20s were handed suspended prison of the group's members were arrested last July after they announced plans to disrupt the state opening of Met Police said the force understood the importance of the right to protest but added that Youth Demand had stated an intention to "shut down" London during April."We have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality," a spokesman said. "On Thursday, officers raided a Youth Demand planning meeting where those in attendance were plotting their April action."Six people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance."A further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, 28 March. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter."
The Independent
30-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Quakers condemn Met Police raid as six arrested in Westminster meeting house
The Quakers in Britain group has condemned the arrests of six Youth Demand supporters by more than 30 police officers. The arrests were the first 'in living memory' to occur in a Quaker meeting house, recording clerk for the group Paul Parker said, after the officers detained the Youth Demand supporters at 7:30pm in Westminster on Thursday. 'This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest,' he said. 'Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.' The detainees were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, police said. Youth Demand said the meeting was held to 'share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' planned for April. Houses were also raided during the operation on Thursday and Friday, Youth Demand added. In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. 'Many have taken nonviolent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women's suffrage and prison reform.' Youth Demand, the self-described 'youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide', began carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year. It calls on the government to halt all trade with Israel and raise money from the 'super rich and fossil fuel elite' to pay damages for the impacts of fossil fuel burning. In April last year, the group hung a banner and laid rows of children's shoes outside Sir Keir Starmer's home, after which three people in their 20s were issued suspended prison sentences. Further arrests were made last July after the group announced plans to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.
