- London police arrested six individuals at Westminster Quaker Meeting House, where they were discussing climate change and peace in Gaza. Twenty uniformed officers equipped with tasers made the arrests.
- Quakers in Britain condemned the violation of their place of worship, stating that authorities have not arrested anyone in a Quaker meeting house in living memory.
- The Metropolitan Police stated the arrests were due to Youth Demand’s intention to “shut down” London using tactics like swarming and roadblocks.
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London police arrested six individuals who were meeting at a Quaker house to discuss climate change and peace in Gaza, according to Quakers in Britain.
Who are the Quakers?
A Quaker is a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement that began in the mid-17th century. The term “Quaker” was originally a nickname, reflecting their belief in living simply and humbly and focusing on inner spiritual truth over outward rituals.
According to the organization, 20 uniformed police officers equipped with tasers broke down the front door of Westminster Quaker Meeting House, forced their way inside and arrested six young women who were meeting in a room with the group Youth Demand.
Youth Demand is a political activist group that demands the government stop all trade with Israel and make the “super-rich” pay damages to communities harmed by fossil fuels, according to its website.
While Youth Demand and the Quakers are not associated, Quakers allow groups to rent out rooms in their meeting houses.
Have the Quakers responded to the arrests?
In a press release, Quakers of Britain stated they “strongly condemn the violation of their place of worship.”
“No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory,” Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said in a statement. “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 criminalizes protest.”
The Metropolitan Police told The Guardian officers arrested the six individuals because “Youth Demand have stated an intention to ‘shut down’ London over the month of April using tactics including ‘swarming’ and road blocks.”
“While we absolutely recognize the importance of 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,” the police said.
British media reports indicate that authorities arrested the activists for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
“To the best of my knowledge, stepping out into the road for 10 minutes is not something you could be pre-emptively arrested for, yet here we are,” Eddie Whittingham, one of the Youth Demand activists, told The Guardian.
