Attorney Jonathan Turley has a post May 7 on his blog “Res Ipsa Loquitur” ("The thing speaks for itself") on the apparent fact that some 30 “Not My King” peaceful protest organizers were arrested in London during the British King’s coronation without being charged or told a reason for their arrest. A Met Police commander whom Turley quotes appears to acknowledge the protest was entirely peaceful, but intended to “undermine” Charles’s coronation, and the authorities’ “tolerance” for that “was low.” The commander is Karen Findlay, who said:
“This depends on the context. The coronation is a once in a generation event, and that is a key consideration in our assessment. A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.” Turley cites an earlier (pre-coronation) statement Findlay had made, that “our tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low. We will deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining this celebration.”
As Turley notes, the British monarchy’s motto translates (from French, of course) as “God and My Right” (the monarch’s right, no one else’s).
