Heavy handed police action at Quaker Meeting House.

That was in the O/P imo, people hadn't read it in full, ie the reference story, but clarified on this thread by page 3.

For majority police bad, people in meeting place good , nothing in the news , most strange

As I said previously nobody on here really knew what had happened, but drew all kinds of erroneous conclusions, such as this was a group of Quakers.

This.

Yes of course it was how I told it.

I was pointing out that the way things are written very much affects how events are perceived, when emotive language is used and only a partial account is given.

That was my whole point. As I said previously nobody on here really knew what had happened, but drew all kinds of erroneous conclusions, such as this was a group of Quakers.

That was purely from the way the article was written and was completely wrong.

I’m always suspicious of anything that resorts to emotive language, no matter who it comes from.

I agree Wyllow 👍

Youth Demand describes itself as “a youth-led nonviolent civil resistance campaign demanding the UK stops arming Israel and cancels all new oil and gas granted since 2021”.

So are they or are they not Quakers or did they just rent a room there because they considered it would be a safe space for their plotting?

I don't think its OK to violently break into premises like a Quaker Meeting House, a Church, a synagogue, a Mosque, and so on, without very good cause of imminent danger, which there clearly was not.

I didn't say it was.

Just that we have only heard one side from a group of people planning disruptive protests.

Wyllow3

That's how you tell it, Lathyrus3

Are you saying it didn't happen, Allira? Just because of the various SM reports who have very much their own "take" on it.
What possible reasons could there be for a fabrication by Quakers?

We've just had notification by email quoting the O/P article and a comment

"Part of a response from Lorna Richardson, Premises Cooordiator: at Westminster Quaker Meeting

In time we will have to consider what guidanceMeeting Houses might need for such events, but at the moment we are working together to consider how we respond to this incident as Quakers, as well as caring for our community of worshippers,hirers and visitors,seekinglegal advice, and repairing the physical damage to our building.

We ask you to hold everyone affected in the Light."

I don't think its OK to violently break into premises like a Quaker Meeting House, a Church, a synagogue, a Mosque, and so on, without very good cause of imminent danger, which there clearly was not.

I agree Wyllow completely ...

Its now reaching MSM now there has been a statement by the Met.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/29/met-raids-quaker-meeting-house-and-arrests-six-women-at-youth-demand-talk

That's how you tell it, Lathyrus3

Are you saying it didn't happen, Allira? Just because of the various SM reports who have very much their own "take" on it.
What possible reasons could there be for a fabrication by Quakers?

We've just had notification by email quoting the O/P article and a comment

"Part of a response from Lorna Richardson, Premises Cooordiator: at Westminster Quaker Meeting

In time we will have to consider what guidanceMeeting Houses might need for such events, but at the moment we are working together to consider how we respond to this incident as Quakers, as well as caring for our community of worshippers,hirers and visitors,seekinglegal advice, and repairing the physical damage to our building.

We ask you to hold everyone affected in the Light."

I don't think its OK to violently break into premises like a Quaker Meeting House, a Church, a synagogue, a Mosque, and so on, without very good cause of imminent danger, which there clearly was not.

Sorry, but I'm no more inclined to believe a Quaker than anyone else.

Not really factual in the way of “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

“broke into a Quaker Meeting House and arrested six young people holding a meeting”

broke into a rented room in a Quaker Meeting house where a large gathering was being held and arrested six of the participants

“over concerns for the climate and Gaza”

planning future disruptive action in support of the climate and Gaza

It’s how you tell it…………

I can assure you that an official Quaker source would not lie. They are a responsible source.

all they said as to the events was

"Police broke into a Quaker Meeting House last night (27 March) and arrested six young people holding a meeting over concerns for the climate and Gaza"

"Just before 7.15pm more than 20 uniformed police, some equipped with tasers, forced their way into Westminster Meeting House."

"They broke open the front door without warning or ringing the bell first, searching the whole building and arresting six women attending the meeting in a hired room."

They made some remarks about the relevant police acts, and that this was the first time that its happened in a Quaker Meeting House

but made no comments whatsoever on the nature of Youth Demand and any plans - since they weren't Quakers.

I dont see what problems there are with this report as factual

All the Social Media stuff contains a great deal of allegations and speculation and political commentary around the event, about Youth Demand, exaggerations of how many police, and so on.

When I first skim read this on my phone, I assumed it had happened in the States.

I'm taking it all with a pinch of salt so far as the news originated from the Quaker news organisation and has gained momentum on SM but not been responsibly reported anywhere else.

It's in the Jewish News.

I'm sticking to the straightforward O/P report of what happened until we get a police statement.

There was a meeting, there was a police raid, there is a plan by youth Demand of a rally on Tuesday,

we need a police statement and its possible that thats what MSM are waiting for, as its all over SM.

Anniebach

Must be Allira I didn’t know it was still being published

Yes, I had a look, it's still around, stirring up the youth with pessimism about their futures and bad language.

Must be Allira I didn’t know it was still being published

Anniebach

It’s in The Socialist Worker,

Well, it must be true then 😂😂😂

It’s in The Socialist Worker,

My reply was to pascal's post, not yours Wyllow

I doubt it!

It seems to have been in a Quaker publication and picked up by other religious groups.

The main news media would see this and publish it if it could be found to have validity.

We'll have to wait and see.

It's as reported in the O/P. Quakers objecting to raid on their premises and why,

the significance or otherwise of what happened depends on ones POV?

It was also in The Morning Star and Catholic News.. I assume it's been deliberately suppressed..

The only report, apart from in religious publications, has been on CNN which reports that "Quakers say that...." and "..... according to a statement from Quakers UK."

I'm beginning to think this is either an exaggeration or a fabrication for publicity purposes.