More than 20 police officers raided a meeting of the activist group Youth Demand at the Quaker Meeting House in Westminster, which has been condemned as an ‘aggressive violation’ by the Quakers in Britain
On March 27, police raided a Quaker meeting in Westminster for the first time in living memory. Quakers in Britain claimed that more than 20 non-uniformed police officers forced their way into the building to arrest six women in attendance who are part of the activist group Youth Demand, two of whom were new attendees.
Quakers in Britain released a statement saying police officers – some “equipped with tasers” – forced their way into the Westminster Quaker Meeting House just before 7:15PM. Officers reportedly “broke open the front door without warning or ringing the bell first, searching the whole building and arresting six women attending the meeting in a hired room”.
The Metropolitan Police said that the six women were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police told The Mirror: “Youth Demand have stated an intention to ‘shut down’ London over the month of April using tactics including ‘swarming’ and road blocks. While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality.”
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Youth Demand is self-described as a youth-led environmental and political activist group and have garnered significant media attention in the last year for their direct action campaigns. One of which included spray-painting the word ‘GENOCIDE CONFERENCE’ across the front entrance of a building of a Labour Party conference. Youth Demand has consistently called for the government to stop trade with Israel and decried the “super rich and fossil fuel elite”.
Youth Demand has said the meeting at Westminster was meant to be an opportunity to discuss the situation in Gaza and “share plans for nonviolent civil resistance actions to take place in April”. This type of action involving public breaches of law as a means to object government policies, and can include protests, marches and other non-violent activities.
While Youth Demand is not affiliated with the Quakers, Quakers are historically committed to non-violence and pacifism. The raid has sent a disturbing chill through the community and marks a concerning clamp down on peaceful protest. The online community has expressed outrage at the Met Police following the event.
Commenting on the Quakers in Britain Instagram post following the incident, one user wrote: “This is the saddest proof that things are getting away from us. Does anyone know if the young people concerned need any help or support? Shame on the arresting officers.” Some alluded to the fact that this showed a lack of respect for the place of worship: “This is appalling! The police wouldn’t burst into Westminster Abbey with tasers! Such a lack of respect for people’s beliefs on every level.”
Quakers in Britain have publicly condemned the raid and expressed their support for the arrested individuals, writing in a press release: “Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet. Many have taken nonviolent direct action over the centuries from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage and prison reform.”
According to Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain: “No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory.” Parker continued: “This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.”
When asked about any security or policy measures that are now being taken as a direct result of the incident, Westminster Quakers told The Mirror that trustees are reviewing policies, but no decisions have been taken yet. Additionally, Westminster Quakers have said that they will be submitting a complaint to the police.
Youth Demand released a timeline of events, detailing additional house raids and arrests that took place following the Westminster raid. The Met Police confirmed that a further five arrests for the same offence were made on Friday, March 28. Four of the arrests were at addresses in London and one in Exeter. Five of those arrested on Thursday have been released on bail and one will face no further action, while all five of those arrested on Friday have been released on bail.
Youth Demand shared a statement on Instagram: “Arresting those for attending a welcome talk is an unprecedented level of police repression that has never been seen before in the UK. Repression means the state is nervous and we are winning. So we will not back down. We must challenge the authoritarian system.”
The group has recently announced they will be hosting a kick-off event on April 3 at 7pm and stated that they “refuse to let intimidation attempts work and will not call off any events or actions.” The event is currently set to take place once again at the Westminster Quaker Meeting House, a bold dare to see whether the right for peaceful protest will once again be challenged.
