The Monarchy & Protests

When American football players started kneeling for the anthem, I found it gross. Not because I disagreed with their point of view, but because I did not like how they were choosing to protest. I did not ask for them or want them to be arrested. I just simply stopped watching. That's because I believe in free speech. In short: I might disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

If you believe in free speech, then you believe in it Regardless of your emotional response to somebody else's point of view and protest. You can think it is gross. You can think it is disrespectful. But the entire point of freedom of speech is that You are free to express, especially when it is an unpopular opinion.

Everyone agrees with free-speech until Someone says something that offends you”  That pretty much sums it up

The lady who was arrested for holding up a anti-monarchy placard, was in my opinion, very wrong. I'm not anti-monarchy, (ex. Forces), however the hypocrisy from Mike is unbelievable. You either have free speech or you don't,  can't have it both ways. I'm firmly with Laura on this one. Once you start choosing sides or saying that's wrong, it's only an opinion based on your ideology. People have, at this moment in time, a right to voice their opinions, within the law. Maybe the police should take this onboard, it's already made the public highly suspicious of their political bent.

We are angry over the lack of any form of common decency and respect for a grieving family. No one is angry over the protest subject.

Shouting, "fire" in a crowded theatre,  unless there isn't one, then it becomes dangerous and may cause injury, unnecessarily. Those people would be causing potential harm or actual harm. I agree, it is obnoxious and offensive to disrespect any funeral procession. It is not against the law and once you go down that path you end up with BLM being allowed to get away with allsorts and conversely the freedom rallies being vilified by the police and media. There is either the same law for all, or no law at all. Remember, you take offence, not give it.

People have a right to protest within the law, but whether it's the right thing to protest at a particular time and place is a different matter. It comes down to your own view of respect, decency and tolerance. If you think it's right to protest during a period of national mourning then you probably don't have much respect for, or tolerance of, others. I haven't see any footage of protestors but I would imagine they were arrested for offences under the Public Order Act 1986 - you don't have the right to use whatever language or behaviour you want. And by the way, LD, the police are there to uphold law and order - not support whatever rights people think they might enjoy.

There is a distinction between freedom to express views and the method used to express those views. If the method used causes offence to and provokes the majority then that majority might express their own views forcibly with obvious consequences. If the Law is unable to police the method of expression then we have major issues. With freedom comes responsibility and it's why politicians should not ignore the now silent majority because that silence might end.

Whatever the event people have the right to protest. However, following that principle, the rest of us then have the right to show those protesters how we feel about their protest.

Free speech means you have a right to state an opinion, it doesn't mean you can express that opinion in whatever manner you want.

I would not be allowed to express my opinion using a loud hailer outside Laura's house at 1am, on a public street.

They are allowed to protest but the method was likely to be considered insulting to the family given the occasion and so arrest under S5 of the Public Order act seems reasonable.

If they wanted to protest, don't do it at a funeral procession, wait for a better time and place.

The reality is protesting and you're right to free speech just free speech does not mean whenever and against whoever you feel like it whenever you feel like it And no people should not have a right to scream and disrupt other people's events just because they don't agree with something that is not how this works And there's one thing about holding signs up and standing on them side of the road and yelling we don't want you anymore monarchy or whatever as as opposed to screaming threats and then attacking other people

These protestors have a right to protest in this sad moment whether any of us agree or not. Where I believe the police have done right in this instance is to maintain the peace. 

The police have the power to detain or arrest you if a breach of the peace has occurred, or to prevent it from occurring. 

I’ll give our police a hard time when they deserve it, but in this instance and always, let them make the call as to whether a protest breaches or has the likelihood of breaching the peace.

Yes to right of free speech. Yes to freedom to choose your employees.  Yes to freedom to who you rent or sell property to.  Yes to the freedom to decide who can come into a shop you own.  Yes to the freedom to choose who enters and/or lives in your Country.

Problem is if you exercise your free speech and you do it in a manner or place and time that's most probably going to piss alot of people off, you are now disturbing the peace as those people are going to do something about you.

Firstly it wasn't the police officer who dragged him out of the crowd, it was two burly men. The copper stepped in to stop the incident from getting out of hand.  He (the cop) then marshalled the protester away for his own protection and to lessen any danger of it spiralling, he prevented a breach of the peace or worse from happening.   The officer did a great job IMO, you see it in the immediate aftermath. The two burly guy's pushed the young man and were then told to back off which they did.  The cop diffused the situation and moved the problem away.  Good policing.

I agree people have a right to protest peacefully. The problem is that if the protesters are causing such offence it is likely to cause a breach of the peace then the police need to step in to protect the individuals. Looking at the footage the crowd were understandably annoyed and the police needed to get involved. Those who hold up signs should not be targeted unless there is a need to prevent a breach of the peace, not because you disagree with their opinions.

There is a difference between protest and public disorder. Freedom of speech does not give you the right to yell and scream in people's faces, or deliberately provoke others. If you acted in an obnoxious manner in a school, police station, hospital or place of business, you'd be removed, arrested or shouted down - and no one would claim that the offender's free speech had been violated.

I guess  Laura Dodsworth has never read  what  the law on breach of the peace is . 

Prohibition of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace

Any person who in any public place or at any public meeting uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned, shall be guilty of an offence.

Right to protest means the Right for Insulate Britain to Glue themselves to the road its neither Dangerous to others or Abusive to others as a Act. Laura Dodsworth is very wrong on this.

Heckling at Them while their Mother is in a coffin is disgusting and vile and those kind of people should not be walking the street, they really are dangerous individuals.

Yes, "Free Speech" but be ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT!!! Either through the courts or through Social channels -  Being Offensive and downright Disrespectful only reflects the immaturity, the infantile nature, and sheer Ignorance of those who have no self-respect and therefore no respect for others, and especially for those in distress as in this instance.

Anyone who tries to argue that the protester shouldn't be arrested has lost the plot. No one's saying you don't have a right to protest, and no one's saying you can't shout out in a public place. But under these very specific (and quite unique) circumstances (a silent funeral cortege with large crowds of people showing their respects) the outburst was a potential breach of the peace. In other words, to not arrest this person and remove him,  could have easily resulted in some sort of civil unrest, fight, or even riot. It is on that basis the correct, and safest action to protect all parties was taken. This has nothing to do with rights (which come with responsibilities), and nothing to do with what was actually being shouted, it's to do with inciting civil unrest by such disrespectful and offensive action. A breach of the peace was successfully prevented and (as I understand it) no one was hurt.

The right to protest and the right to free speech has to be upheld. However, with these things comes responsibility and consequences. If you protest and shout out at a funeral don't be surprised if you finish the day with a black eye. At a Royal funeral, well, I think it would be unwise to express yourself, you might find yourself being held responsible for your words and there will be consequences delivered to you by those also attending the event. Sometimes it's best to keep your opinions to yourself.

The same wokeists who constantly shout their 'right to protest' statement are the same types who are happy that people are cancelled or cuffed for what they deem to be an 'offensive anxiety causing' tweet or misgendering some nuisance are also happy to be so nasty and offensive in public and think that's ok. We have a protocol of 9 days respectful mourning in Britain, during which quiet reflection is taken.

When your heroes die it appears your protocol is 9 days of looting, lawbreaking and civil unrest whilst complaining you are hard done by.Hope this helps.

Aren't these type of people to woke people? Ughhh, I've been following this for 7 days now okay I just looked all through history over the Royal family there's a lot of cons here about their system. You don't get to pick anybody no different than America they like you to think you have a choice there are no choices they own you they all own all of us. Same thing with Australia they don't want to be with the monarchy anymore they're head of state don't live in the country the head of state don't talk in the country most of all their head is state ain't there! Is this type of colonial I hate to use that word but it's colonial this is Old colonial I'll scratch your back you don't know me I don't know you but when you scratch my back I got your back that doesn't work anymore. We've been seeing for a very long time what they're all about I'm not just talking about the royal family. I'm talking about all global power structures that own us and won't let us do it to anything about it.and now we're not caring about the respect of a passing loved one ?see there's a problem with that if don't ever see a problem with that with some of you do I'm glad you do there is a problem with disrespecting the celebration of a passing of a loved one. But see this is where we need to start putting legal s*** on this woke  culture crap if there was ever a time we need a a mediator for the transition into technology that we as a society have made it would be now. I don't think they should be arrested but I think we should hear that because monarchies that's the thing, I think that's the last one to fall I believe you know besides I think five or six others that are under the Royal Palace in the Royal Kingdom Commonwealth, they got a fall man it's sad to say it it really is they are very classy but look what the f**** Queens inauguration I keep calling it inauguration I apologize it's not an inauguration but back in 1952 80 billion pounds for some woman to walk in a church and sit on a bunch of gold we're done with that we're done with that come on I think a lot of you can get a reading this comment can agree with that we're done with it ,it's gotten to a point where you're going to that's not just the only protest you guys are going to see you're going to start seeing fires explosions gun fights gun battles you know and the guys are looking like all these  things like I'm  going too far but you know what what's the f**** point monarchies are done they're old hat nobody wants them anymore and if you want them monarchy just look at your f**** life do you really want to monarchy with your paying your tax dollars and eat on top of 567 dinner plates? with a 375 drinking glass? and a $250 spoon? And everything you own in your kitchen is from Dollar general or family Dollar or whatever you guys have over there just like we do over here in America? but let's think about that. let's look at the logic behind that fight the good fight the cop tries to lock you up stick a knife in them you have your right to voice your opinion but my first opinion on protesting I got caught in two major rallies in Boston when I was homeless with my crew you need to be ready to swing the baseball bat and all of the above you need to be ready to throw down and you need to be ready to sit in the South for a couple days, you guys also don't look like a bunch of very vicious protesters to me but I guess yeah, just be appropriate about it and don't f**** do it when somebody's got a casket in the back seat okay that's my personal opinion you got to you got a guest there they can't voice for themselves because she's  sitting inside of a box and that person sitting inside that box is giving a 7 years of neutral uncorrupted service shut the f**** wait for it tomorrow you guys wanted a monarchy so bad you wanted royalty this is royalty this is what you get shut up about it. And wait for a more appropriate time also we ran quote unquote ran from Britain all those years ago to come to the United States to do the same f**** thing there's irony in that and the point I'm trying to make is I'm not coming from a walk perspective I left comments before people getting it twisted I like to provide ideas but look at facts I'm also about history the s*** we're trying to get rid of history you're going to be sorry you're trying to get rid of WW2 that's a problem we need that there for future generations so we don't have another spoiled German brat running around thinking he can paint okay? So many things need adjustments mediators people need to calm down and think

It’s an old fashioned thing called respect ( which is becoming defunct) , if Tony Blair died tomorrow would I celebrate -no that would be disrespectful , I would wait a few weeks/ months then break the BOLLINGER ,I luv the way people think it’s OK to slag people off even during the mourning period ,  just shows how people have changed - it’s all me me me and EF U.

There is a time and a place. There are a lot of UK citizen who want to mourn the death of there sovereign Queen and witness the transition of sovereignty . 

There is plenty of time to protest later as is your right out of respect for others at this time you should refrain

I think that what these people are doing is abhorrent and they should be ashamed of themselves. That being said I am a free speech advocate so I have to accept that in a public street they have the right to piss me and assumedly the Royal family off. Let’s see if they remember free speech rights next time it’s something they care about

Distasteful behaviour or not, no one should be arrested if they are not committing a crime. Free speech is two important to curtail. In this day and age I am afraid to speak my mind because of the hate crime legislation, which have arbitrarily defined the concept of hate. Hate is now disagree or dislike. It's pure madness and on the road to tyranny.

I think they should not be arrested for doing so. However, whilst current events provide the opportunity for increased traction & media coverage, it reflects very poorly on them that they can’t wait for the Queen to be buried before sticking the knife in. At the very least she was a human being with loved ones that are mourning so some emotional empathy wouldn’t go amiss. Protest the coronation if necessary, not a funeral/memorial.

Britain's first black Queen was Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz - if we were experiencing her funeral, does this lady honestly think that in today's Society, she wouldn't be making a totally different argument, condemning vehemently any murmurings of descent, nothing whatsoever to do with skin colour, but the same grievances. However, without doubt she would bring race into the equation, as the source of protests. This is why I don't understand far left ideology, no middle ground, "their way or no way". She also states free speech is being eradicated, sorry where has she been for the last few years? The only citizens to have their voices silenced are those who have common sense views, but are demonised at a moment's notice by the far left MSM. The Twitter Gestapo, now control our News Outlets, as real journalists are a thing of the past. Instead relying on one source from a platform they think represents the views of a nation.

If you think they should be arrested, you are going beyond just saying that it is wrong. You don't arrest people for doing "the wrong thing". You arrest people for breaking the law. People have the right to free speech without being criminalised for what they say. The real question here is whether a public procession for a private matter is still a private function whereby some form of security is required and where some can be ejected for inappropriate actions. But even then, that would be ejecting people from the event, not arresting them for their speech.

The same people who stand and protest would be the same people stood at the front of the queue if the royal family tomorrow morning opened the gates to hand out envelopes with cash in them at the same time as they are spewing out hate.

Those who are protesting might have the right but imagine if that was your grandmother or mother I personally would come out swinging. This isn't about right or wrong it is about respect and if you can not respect then stay away. In a years time the royals will still be there the protesters where will they be in a hundred years time looking back on history it will be no different to those protesting about Queen Victoria who shut herself away for years after the death of her beloved Albert.

SO CARRY ON PROTESTING but if you do the same protesting on the day of the funeral in front of all the dignitaries and presidents prime ministers and other royals who are you showing up because it won't be me it will be yourself and you all think that you are going to get away with it but remember BIG BROTHER is always watching and if you do that near me I will sock you right in your face. Respect or shut up and stay at home.

If you haven't anything nice to say then shut up.

If all you can do is shout then no one will listen.

If all you can do is judge then your high horse needs lowering.

If all you can do is complain about something you obviously have no understanding of you are not living a life of any description because your to busy watching and attacking others who are and they couldn't care less what you are complaining about just like those lunatics who super glue themselves to things I mean who thought that one up or how about those sitting in the traffic while hard working decent people are trying to get to work.

Protest to your heart's content because it is you who are causing the politicians to stop free speech well done people you did your job sadly it isn't the one you were protesting for.

They have a right to protest but if they do it at a sensitive time like this they have the right to a bloody nose too. It always make me laugh how these idiotic just stop oil protesters glue themselves to the road using superglue which is a highly distilled oil based chemical product

There is a time and place for free speech and you have to remember this was the Queen head of state / loved by many. people on social media even stopped others from complaining about the Queen when she passed away. we still should respect the life she gave to this world - if it wasn't for her things would have been so much different - from being the first to stand up to free slaves /  so much more over her life time that it's too many to list . for  what she has done for the people , this is the first person that the USA is stopping and hanging there flags at half staff . this is like no other done in history over the years.