Republic: Six individuals opposed to monarchy taken into custody during king’s coronation

Leading republican opponents of the monarchy were detained by UK police on Saturday as they planned to demonstrate alongside a procession for King Charles III’s coronation, according to the group.

“They won’t tell us why they’ve arrested them or where they’re being held,” a Republic activist told AFP in London’s Trafalgar Square. “They’ve arrested six of our organizers and seized hundreds of placards.”

Graham Smith, the CEO of Republic, was one of those detained before the group could hold up signs reading, “Not My King.”

Nearby spectators yelled, “Free Graham Smith!” Others, however, yelled “God save the king” while hoisting Union flags.

A senior police officer was questioned by a camera crew from the Alliance of European Republican Movements as to why the group had been detained.

They’re being detained. End of,” the officer declared before leaving.

The London Metropolitan police force, which the UK government controversially granted new anti-protest powers under a new law hurried through this week, made no immediate comment.

Republic confirmed the arrests and placard seizures on its Twitter account. It asked, “Is this democracy?”