British Republicans denounce that “the right to peaceful protest no longer exists”

May 7. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Republicans who staged protests on Saturday on the occasion of the coronation of Carlos III have denounced the repression and the arrest of more than fifty people.

“The right to peaceful protest no longer exists,” lamented the convening group, Republic, after the arrest of 52 people during the protests.

The leader of the group, Graham Smith, was one of those arrested and has denounced his situation after 16 hours in custody. “I just left the police station. I’m still waiting for my colleagues. Make no mistake. There is no longer the right to peaceful protest in the United Kingdom,” he denounced.

“I have been told many times that the king is there to defend our liberties. Now our liberties are being attacked in his name,” Smith said.

The London Metropolitan Police has argued that its response has been “proportionate” and its boss, Karen Findlay, has explained that the agents had a duty to intervene “when the protest becomes criminal and could cause serious problems.”

The police themselves had warned on Twitter that they would have “an extremely low tolerance” for anyone who tried to “undermine” the events of coronation day.