Another anti-lockdown protest today finished with about 155 arrests and clashes with the police.
The initial place for the anti-lockdown gathering was Battersea Park but on Wednesday 25, the protest organisers posted on social media that the location was changed to Kings Cross Station at 12 on Saturday, 28 November.
Today, Kings Cross Station was heavily guarded with police officers who also made a couple of arrests. The Metropolitan police announced that three people were detained for breaching the coronavirus restrictions at Kings Cross station.
First arrest at antilockdown protest taking place at King's Cross Station, London. Police cited covid restrictions before the arrest. #kingscross #antilockdown pic.twitter.com/AuqMKk2h0P
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) November 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/SteveLaws_/status/1332664948540010499
The protesters came with a final plan to move the gathering to Marble Arch at 12.30.
Anti-lockdown protesters HURL barriers at police on Oxford Circus following protest in London #Antilockdown #antilockdownprotest Video licence: https://t.co/aj7Lircigv pic.twitter.com/3f6k3iHzvV
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) November 28, 2020
From Marble Arch the demonstrators marched to Oxford Circus. They were shouting “freedom” and some of the posters contained messages like “stop controlling us” and “no more lockdowns”. Other slogans carried by the demonstrators were “ditch the face masks” and “no to mandatory masks”.
Many protestors marched to Hyde Park, Carnaby Street and Regent Street.
Video by Ghila Evansky
The traffic on Regent Street was stopped due to police attempts to detain and handcuff people on the ground. On the police actions, many of the protestors answered with booing and chants of “shame on you”.
Yet again, chants of "CHOOSE YOUR SIDE" echo across London.
The #Antilockdown protest reaches Regent Street, and as predicted, the presence of many far-right figures on the march has resulted in arrests being made.
This was always gonna be the fash's endgame though, wasn't it. pic.twitter.com/kOP5IJHeKv
— Marsh4LL (@Marsh4LL1) November 28, 2020
London was not the only place that protests took place. In the French capital Paris, thousands of people marched today against the security law which will limit sharing images of police.
The protests came a few days after the country was shocked by footage which shows police officers who beat and racially abused a Black man.
Words: Vanya Petyova | Subbing: Dina Nazari