London: Quaker Meeting House raided by Metropolitan Police again

Westminster Quaker Meeting House Wiki Image by Stephen Richards

Source: Quakers in Britain

This evening, for the second time in a year, the Metropolitan Police raided a Quaker Meeting House and arrested a number of young nonviolent activists who were meeting there, on the grounds that they were conspiring to commit a criminal act.

The room in Westminster Quaker Meeting House was let to Take Back Power to hold nonviolent direct action training. Quakers support the principle of nonviolent direct action, which aims to protest without harming people.

Oliver Robertson, head of witness and worship for Quakers in Britain, said: "For Quakers, faith and action are inseparable. Peaceful protest, prayer and nonviolent action are integral parts of many Quakers' religious life.

"Whilst we take the planning of criminal acts very seriously, we believe that this incident is a deliberate targeting of committed young people who want to make our country a more equitable place. This raid is part of a systematic stifling of dissent.

"That this is the second time in a year that the police have raided our meeting house dramatically illuminates the broader trend in the UK of cracking down on those who disagree with the government. The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy. It's a key part of how people make their voices heard between elections."

LINKS

Quakers in Britain: www.quaker.org.uk

Quakers call for rights to be restored after police raid on quaker meeting house: www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/calls-grow-to-restore-rights-after-police-raid-on-quaker-meeting-house

West End church leaders protest over police raid on Quaker Meeting House: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/52095