It is very concerning to see incidents of peaceful protesters being arrested.
This is opposite to everything that the late Queen stood for – and presided over – for 70 years.
We have a right to peaceful protest in this country. We cannot pretend that dissent does not exist. There will never be 100% agreement on everything. It is ridiculous to try to pretend that there is 100% approval of the monarchy. Our strength is that we tolerate dissent.
We should wear peaceful protests as a badge of honour. It is sign of a healthy democracy.
The young lad in Edinburgh should have been protected from the mob – not allowed to be yanked about by members of the crowd, and not arrested for some trumped-up charge.
There seems to have been some lack of preparation here. In all the plans about proclamations etc, had no one thought to prepare for peaceful protests?
As Alistair Carmichael tweeted:
The greatest way we can honour Her Majesty the Queen is to preserve and celebrate dissent – and the peaceful protest which goes with it – in this country.
There needs to be urgent recalibration of the police response to peaceful protest in the light of the current period of mourning and ceremony.