On Thursday evening, six women were arrested during a police raid at a Quaker meeting house in Westminster, London. The women were members of the protest group Youth Demand, which has announced plans to engage in significant activism next month, accusing the UK government of enabling what they describe as genocide in Gaza.
The police operation occurred around 7:15 PM, when over 20 officers, equipped with Tasers, forcefully entered the meeting house. Reports indicate that authorities broke through the front door without warning as they conducted a search of the premises. The women were subsequently taken into custody on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. This action aligns with the provisions established by recent legislation, specifically the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023, which have introduced stricter regulations on protests and allowed for police interventions deemed necessary for public order.
Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, expressed strong disapproval of the police intervention, describing it as an unprecedented violation of their sacred space. “No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory,” Parker stated. He further characterised the raid as an "aggressive violation" that demonstrates the consequences of criminalising protest, underscoring the essential nature of freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials for a robust democratic society.
According to subsequent statements, the Met Police suggested that the participants of the gathering were linked to Youth Demand’s forthcoming actions in April, which the group has stated may include tactics such as 'swarming' and roadblocks to "shut down" London. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police commented on the situation, acknowledging the importance of the right to protest while asserting a duty to prevent actions that may result in serious disruption or criminal activity.
In a video shared on Youth Demand's Facebook page, one of the attendees described the meeting as a “publicly advertised welcome talk” regarding their campaign. She alleged that police seized phones and laptops from attendees during the raid.
Following the initial arrests, the police reported that they apprehended five additional individuals—four in London and one in Exeter—under similar suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Those arrested on Thursday have since been released on bail, with the exception of one individual who will face no further action.
Quakers, or members of the Religious Society of Friends, have a longstanding tradition of advocating for peaceful protest and social justice, principles that continue to guide their beliefs and activities today.
Source: Noah Wire Services