Thread | Brutkey

The arrestables themselves are doing this right. They're dignified and peaceful, not resisting and not participating in the chaos. I likely disagree with them a ton, but there's some nobility and courage in what they're doing here.

merely rhys
@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf

I'm over in the calmer area now. Much more organised here. Police are sending in small groups to carry people off for arrest. This chap in the second pic lying down was on the same tube train as me this morning.

merely rhys
@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf

The protest is officially over now. They only planned to do an hour. I doubt they arrested half the people breaking the proscription order.

Many are leaving now, but a good lot are staying. I'm sticking around for a little while, but I have somewhere to be in a couple of hours.

merely rhys
@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf

Down to the last few dozen now, and the police have drawn the perimeter in close. I'm heading off now.

I'm glad I came. I got some great photos and I'm sure I'll remember this one forever, horrid and harrowing though some of the chaos was.

Now for some stiff drinks.

merely rhys
@rhys@mastodon.rhys.wtf

I was going to comment on this in my blog post I'm writing about the protest: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/10/police-arrest-hundreds-london-protest-over-palestine-action-ban

Of every obvious arrestable I saw there, a solid majority were old. The reason is obvious — they've sufficient security in their lives and livelihoods that they can survive being arrested.

There were a good few younger folks though, who are likely to suffer lifelong consequences for these arrests.

The total on Saturday was 532 arrests per the newer article.