Quakers Refuse Tea in Protest After Police Raid Sparks Outrage
- Were YOU there? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
Quakers were so incensed by a 'ridiculously heavy-handed' police raid that they didn't even offer officers a cup of tea, a member of the group said.
Dozens of Metropolitan Police officers battered down a door to arrest six women at the Quaker meeting while they were discussing climate change and Gaza .
More than 30 police officers made the arrests at a welcome talk held at the Westminster Meeting House at around 7.30pm on Thursday, March 27, according to Youth Demand.
It is believed to be the first time in history that the police have forced their way into the pacifist group's place of worship.
A Quaker reportedly became so outraged by the police's methods that they chose not to serve any officers a cup of tea.
"They burst through the main entrance without any prior notice or even ringing the doorbell," stated Paul Parker, who works as a recording clerk for the religious organization.
This hostile infringement upon our house of worship and the forcible eviction of youngsters convening for a demonstration unmistakably illustrates the consequences faced by societies that outlaw protests.
'In recent history, nobody has been arrested inside a Quaker meeting house,' he mentioned.
Mal Woolford, who is an elder at the Westminster meeting house where the arrests took place, stated Sky News The police's response was described as 'extremely overbearing,' with reports stating that officers 'overwhelmed the structure.'
The individuals detained were suspected of plotting to create a public disturbance, according to law enforcement officials, following concerns about a potential sit-in demonstration in the city center.
A representative from Metro said: 'Youth Demand has expressed their intent to "bring everything to a halt." London over the [coming] month. 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.
Were YOU there? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk
However, Youth Demand said the meeting was 'an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions' due to take place next month.
The group claimed a number of houses were also raided on the same night and into Friday, March 28, as part of the operation.
In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: 'Quakers support the right to nonviolent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet.
'For many years, people have engaged in nonviolent direct actions spanning various causes such as abolishing slavery, securing voting rights for women, and improving prison systems.'
The Youth Demands group, self-described as a "new youth resistance movement advocating for the cessation of genocide," started engaging in civil disobedience activities over the past year.
The requirements set forth by the government involve halting all commerce with Israel and soliciting funds from ‘the extremely wealthy and the fossil fuel industry leaders’ to compensate for the impacts caused by the combustion of fossil fuels.
Previously, Youth Demand organized an event where three individuals hung a banner and arranged rows of children’s shoes at Sir Keir Starmer's residence in April of the previous year. Following this incident, three young adults, around twenty years old, received suspended jail terms.
Last July, additional members of the group were detained following their announcement to interrupt the State Opening of Parliament.
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