Outraged at arrest of woman holding anti-monarchy sign: We are a democratic country, aren’t we?

A woman who held an “abolish monarchy” sign at a proclamation ceremony for King Charles III in Edinburgh has been charged with a criminal offence amid a series of arrests that have alarmed human rights groups.

A heckler who shouted at Prince Andrew as the Queen’s funeral cortege passed through Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on Monday is among the protesters and republican activists who have been targeted by police. A barrister was also questioned by an officer after holding up a “blank piece of paper” in Parliament Square.

A demonstrator arrested in Oxford called the response an “outrageous assault on democracy” and accused police of exercising broad powers in a “heavy-handed and punitive way”.

An anti-Royal protestor holding a poster with the slogan ‘Not my king’ has been pictured being led away by police.

At least two arrests were made at proclamation ceremonies on Sunday, while police were seen moving a woman holding a placard saying “not my king” near the Houses of Parliament on Monday morning.

Asked about the incidents in a daily press conference, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “This is a period of national mourning for the vast vast majority of the country, but the fundamental right to protest remains the keystone of our democracy.”

Maybe that message should be passed on to the police.

Andrew Marr has condemned the arrest of a woman holding an anti-monarchy sign before the Queen’s cortege arrived in the city of Edinburgh, branding the move ‘outrageous’.

Moments before the proclamation of King Charles III on Sunday afternoon, a demonstrator appeared in the crowd brandishing a sign that read ‘f*** imperialism, abolish monarchy’.

Officers appeared behind her and took her away, prompting the crowd to applaud.

It was later confirmed that a 22-year-old woman was arrested ‘in connection with a breach of the peace’.

LBC presenter Marr criticised the arrest during an appearance on Monday’s Good Morning Britain and argued that King Charles III has been ‘alarmed and upset’ by the move.

‘We have seen protestors holding up cards saying they don’t want a new king, they don’t want a monarchy and a few people booing and they have been arrested up and down the country,’ he stated.

🔴An anti-Royal protestor holding a poster with the slogan ‘Not my king’ has been pictured being led away by police 👇 pic.twitter.com/qsur4TT6vz

— Evening Standard (@standardnews) September 12, 2022

‘I think that is outrageous. We are a democratic country. We are an open disputatious country where we can say what is on our minds and I don’t believe for a moment that this is what the new king would have wanted.

‘In fact, I would bet a lot of money that the new King is equally alarmed and upset by the fact that protestors are being arrested.’

Presenter Ben Shephard agreed, adding that the new King enjoys having a debate with people who don’t share the same views as him.

‘He’s a clever, open-minded man,’ Marr continued. ‘I think he’d want his reign to start with a discussion – how a constitutional monarchy fits into this democracy’.

Viewers praised Andrew for bringing attention to the arrest, with one saying: ‘Fair play to Andrew Marr highlighting how alarming it is for protestors to have been arrested yesterday.’

‘Andrew Marr on @GMB stating he thinks it’s outrageous that protesters are being arrested for having abolish the monarchy because we live in a democracy is the most refreshing thing I’ve heard,’ another added.

‘We do at the moment still have right to free speech.’ A third commended Andrew, writing: ‘Big well done to Andrew Marr for calling out what happened to those protestors this weekend.’