Official warning letters have been sent for the planning peaceful protests, saying that new criminal offences to prevent disruption have been rushed into law.
No fewer than 1,600 activists opposing the United Kingdom’s monarchy will protest in London on the day of the coronation of King Charles III, according to a leader of the anti-monarchist movement Republic.
Official warning letters have been sent for the planning peaceful protests, saying that new criminal offences to prevent disruption have been rushed into law.
Using tactics described by lawyers as “intimidatory”, the Home Office’s Police Powers Unit wrote to the campaign group Republic saying new powers had been brought forward to prevent “disruption at major sporting and cultural events”.
The CEO of Republic Graham Smith was quoted by Sky News as saying “we are opposed to the monarchy, and this is a very public display of hereditary privilege and power and needs to be challenged.’’
According to the report, the protesters plan to follow the coronation route holding banners and chanting “Abolish the monarchy” and “Not my king”.
“It’s also an appalling waste of public money when it’s completely unnecessary, so we think this is an opportunity to make clear that we’re not a nation of royalists,” Smith was quoted in the report as saying.
While no official amount has been provided, the coronation is expected to cost 250 million pounds ($314 million).