Activist Charlie Veitch who was planning to stage an anti-state protest in London at the royal wedding was arrested by police ahead of the event.
Mr. Veitch, who lives off Midsummer Common in Cambridge, and set up a group called the Love Police, had previously told the News he and other group members planned to pull out megaphones as the royal procession approached.
Silkie Carlo, 21, a second year student at Cambridge University studying politics and psychology, said Mr. Veitch, her boyfriend, was arrested yesterday (Thursday) at 5 pm.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
Miss Carlo added: “He was arrested as part of a political victimisation campaign.
“What he does is he is a filmmaker who uses a megaphone. He’s quite known for being harmless, peaceful and vocal.
“One of the things we specialise in is hugging police. It is fun to film. They are friends rather than enemies so this is quite unprecedented.
“This is a free speech crime but worse that that it’s a free speech pre-crime.”
Miss Carlo said: “The royal wedding itself is a public nuisance. I don’t consider a democratic protest to be a public nuisance.”
She said 20 to 30 people fathered outside Parkside police station between 930 and midnight yesterday, adding there would be a similar protest today at 3 pm.
Terry Oaks, who lives in Cambridge and attended the demonstration outside Parkside on Thursday night, said: "Cambridge residents are appalled that the Government has so little respect for the right to protest that they are arresting people across the country for even thinking about protesting at the royal wedding."
“The public is footing the £20 million bill for the wedding, but we are being denied the right to voice our opinions, just as the government has been suppressing our right to protest against the welfare cuts which are hitting the poorest the hardest."
A spokeswoman from Cambridgeshire police said: "We arrested a 30-year-old man yesterday on behalf of Met Police. He was firstly taken to Parskide police station but the Met have since taken him down to London."
For more information, visit: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Royal-Wedding/Royal-Wedding-Huge-Security-Operation-Swings-Into-Action-In-Westminster/Article/201104415981730?lpos=Royal_Wedding_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15981730_Royal_Wedding%3A_Huge_Security_Operation_Swings_Into_Action_In_Westminster
and http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/28/bahraini-linked-to-torture-royal-wedding
No comments:
Post a Comment