I’ve been shouting that mandatory vaccines are coming, no one believed me. “Everybody has a personal responsibility to stick to the regulations and help prevent the transmission of Coronavirus. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? And we know that distancing is daft because you need to get close to people and hug them to improve your immune systems and feel happy.”. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. targeted police and more than 32 arrests were made. 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. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The umbrella movement rejects vaccines, masks and lockdowns and amongst those assembled are 5G conspiracy theorists, coronavirus sceptics and anti-vaxxers. While protests are exempt from the rule of six, which is in force in England, organisers must submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. First published on Sat 26 Sep 2020 03.59 EDT. London's Metropolitan Police imposed a 5 p.m. (12 p.m. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. An Anti-Donald Trump protest is also taking place in London today, with campaigners, with people unfurling a banner on Westminster Bridge. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates. All rights reserved. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Most of the protesters could be seen without masks on and not sticking to social distancing as they stood close together in huge numbers. The Metropolitan Police warned ahead of the protest today if anyone taking part fails to stick to the rules action will be taken. Throughout London, we will have officers on hand to respond to reports of breaches but to also engage with communities on the rules. They were urged to join the protest "against Covid scam and tyranny" in a call to arms on social media. Prior to the police intervention, Kerry Dunn, 41, from Bath, said she was there to warn about the dangers of vaccines, saying she believed her son, Beau, had suffered serious adverse affects after he was vaccinated. there is fresh hope for Christmas normality, as lifting restrictions for two days would only have a "limited impact" on coronavirus spreading, a top expert has said. Rule of Six and keep to social distancing. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. At 4.30pm, dozens of officers began advancing on the newly formed crowds. “By leaving now, you can keep yourself safe and avoid any enforcement action being taken by officers.”. Sixteen arrests following clashes between police and protesters in Trafalgar Square, Damien Gayle, Protest against coronavirus measures in London, Police issue warning as anti-lockdown protestors gather in London, ‘This is genocide’: Inside the bizarre rise of coronavirus conspiracy theories, Lord Sugar criticised for sharing baseless coronavirus conspiracy theory, Coronavirus tracked: Hundreds of deaths linked to conspiracy theories and other misinformation, study finds, Anti-vaxxer extremists are growing in numbers during the pandemic – we shouldn’t ignore that, Boris Johnson declares war on anti-vaxx movement with campaign to counter vaccine scaremongering, separate rally by anti-lockdown protestors last week, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. 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We will not allow the health of Londoners to be put at risk and officers and we will take action against those groups or individuals who flagrantly and dangerously breach these rules.”. However, at about 3pm, the Met said the crowds had not “complied with the conditions of their risk assessment and are putting people in danger of transmitting the virus”. https://t.co/bdwigYFtF1. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. The Met have prepared for a “significant policing operation” to deal with the demonstrations in Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park today. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click here. However there is fresh hope for Christmas normality, as lifting restrictions for two days would only have a "limited impact" on coronavirus spreading, a top expert has said. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. “That’s why we are here. Mattha Busby and A large number of anti-lockdown protestors are gathering in London today, prompting a warning by the Metropolitan police to abide by coronavirus restrictions. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Earlier, police reportedly searched a man and confiscated a makeshift riot shield that he was carrying. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. In a statement, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, accused protesters of “reckless and violent behaviour” towards police. He also took to Twitter to condemn the protest, saying “I urge all protestors to leave now … you are putting the safety of our city at risk.”, This is not acceptable. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. “Sweden did better without a lockdown. “We are very concerned with protecting people’s human rights: right to privacy, family life, bodily autonomy, medical freedoms, and so on. it was revealed Brits are growing weary of the curbs on freedoms, with many saying they are willing to break lockdown rules in order to see their loved ones. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Icke’s son, singer-songwriter Gareth Icke, 38, is also due to guest speak. After officers intervened, many protesters moved to Hyde Park, but police said they also did not have permission to be there in such numbers. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A huge crowd of protesters descended on Parliament Square, Protesters march through the streets of London, An unmasked man pictured shouting at a police officer as he films him, A large crowd of protesters gathered at Speakers' Corner, Credit: ©2020 Gustavo Valiente / Parsons Media, Protesters arrived in central London today with placards, One person holding up a placard reading 'love conquers fear', Demonstrators gather in front of the Queen Victoria Memorial at the gates of Buckingham Palace, Police are there in large numbers to keep the protest under control, The group are campaigning against the lockdowns, People hold banners during a protest demanding free school meals for children as multiple campaigns go on in London, A person speaking to cops as crowds gather to protest, Anti-Trump protesters also marching in London today, An unmasked protester holds a sign claiming there has been fearmongering about Covid, People marching declared Covid is 'a scam' as they massed in London, Britons protest in London against potential Trump trade deal. After multiple arrests and injuries at last weeks rally, Met urges protestors to abide by rules, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. 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. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. I urge all protestors to leave now. Placards saying “Think before it is illegal” and “Obey” were held aloft, with some advertising the QAnon conspiracy theory. Commander Ade Adelekan, Gold Commander for Saturday, said: “As COVID-19 cases rise across the capital, it is vitally important for us all to stick to the regulations which are there to keep everyone safe. Masking is mad, it’s like asking a fly to not fly through a fence, it’s stupid. The demonstration today began at noon at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, before a march set off through central London. The demonstration, called We Do Not Consent, comes a week after a separate event during which more than a dozen officers were injured when a “small minority” targeted police and more than 32 arrests were made. “The impact of the actions taken by the government are numerous, so we are not willing to support that, and we are keen to take a stance.”. Known member of the group Piers Corbyn, 73, brother of Jeremy Corbyn, was spotted in the crowd. A coalition of … A further event, planned to take place in Hyde Park on Sunday, is billed as a “people’s network and family picnic.”. Louise Creffield, the founder of Save Our Rights UK, one of the organisations behind the demonstration, said: “We believe that the coronavirus regulations that are in place are not proportionate and appropriate, and are causing more harm than good. They also … In a statement, they said violence will not be tolerated and throughout the week they have been “engaging with organisers, reminding them of their legal obligations.”, They added: “However, if people fail to comply, and continue to put themselves at risk, officers will take enforcement action.”. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. No mandated vaccines.”, Las personas expresaron su malestar por las nuevas medidas de confinamiento y distanciamiento social anunciadas por el gobierno, The poster bill for today's mass rally in Trafalgar Square by anti-lockdown protestors. Commander Ade Adelekan, who is leading the Met operation today, said: “Last weekend it was highly disappointing to see that a small minority of demonstrators targeted officers with violence.”, He added: “I will not tolerate a repeat of this behaviour this weekend and officers will respond quickly to any scenes of violence.”, Last week’s event saw anti-vaxxers holding banners while chanting “freedom”, “covid is a scam” and “save our rights. Police have broken up a protest in central London after thousands of people defied their advice and demonstrated against lockdowns, mass vaccinations, mandatory wearing … For other inquiries, Contact Us. not sticking to social distancing as they stood close together in huge numbers.