CIVICUS speaks with members of Youth Demand about a recent police raid on their meeting. Youth Demand is a non-violent civil resistance group demanding the UK end trade with Israel and make the super-rich and fossil fuel elite pay damages to communities and countries most harmed by fossil fuel burning. The interviewees asked to remain anonymous for security reasons.
On 28 March, police stormed a peaceful gathering at a London Quaker meeting house, arresting dozens of activists planning non-violent action on alleged suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance. Officers entered without warrants, detained participants and searched the building. Religious leaders and civil society organisations have condemned the incident as part of an escalating attack on protest rights in the UK.