{"id":214105,"date":"2020-09-26T17:37:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T17:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=214105"},"modified":"2020-09-29T07:49:17","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T07:49:17","slug":"coronavirus-police-break-up-anti-lockdown-protest-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=214105","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: police break up anti-lockdown protest in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

Damien Gayle, Mattha Busby and Ben Quinn \u2013 The Guardian Sept 26, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Protesters gather in Trafalgar Square in London on September 26, 2020, at a ‘We Do Not Consent!’ mass rally against vaccination and government restrictions, ostensibly to contain Covid-19. Click to enlarge. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS \/ AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Police have broken up a protest in central London<\/strong><\/span><\/a> after thousands of people defied their advice and demonstrated against lockdowns, mass vaccinations, mandatory wearing of face masks and other coronavirus restrictions.<\/span><\/p>\n

The protest, organised by campaign groups including Save Our Rights UK, was called to mark six months since the passage of the Coronavirus Act, which gave the government wide-ranging powers to enact restrictions intended to curb the spread of the virus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protesters began gathering from about midday, with the first speaker saying the demonstration was meant to be peaceful, and that it had been negotiated beforehand with the Metropolitan police<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, with a full health and safety impact assessment filed in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, at about 3pm, the Met said the crowds had not \u201ccomplied with the conditions of their risk assessment and are putting people in danger of transmitting the virus\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

They said the protesters must leave. \u201cBy leaving now, you can keep yourself safe and avoid any enforcement action being taken by officers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Officers waded in to break up part of the crowd and seize the sound system just before 3pm and used batons against protesters, leaving some bleeding with visible head injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ten people were arrested following demonstrations in Trafalgar Square. Four officers have been injured, two requiring hospital treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

After officers intervened, many protesters moved to Hyde Park, but police said they also did not have permission to be there in such numbers. At 4.30pm, dozens of officers began advancing on the newly formed crowds. Police soon declared it an illegal gathering.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Crowds from the #WeDoNotConsent<\/a> anti #lockdownUK<\/a> demo have now regrouped in Hyde Park pic.twitter.com\/CA0Hy9pvIj<\/a><\/p>\n

— Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) September 26, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n