Brutkey

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.