Forum Topic

Why is a 91 year old man arrested for protesting?

'It is not known exactly on what grounds the man was arrested, and the Metropolitan Police were unable to confirm the grounds before any charges had been brought.'https://inews.co.uk/news/extinction-rebellion-london-protest-91-year-old-arrested-cabinet-office-latest-news-657723

Lucille Grant ● 2589d13 Comments

He was blocking the road. The police will have served him with a section 14 notice that required him to move on, when he didnt they arrested him.Here's a vicar being arrested toohttps://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17957827.wantage-vicar-arrested-extinction-rebellion-protest-london/

Matt Palmer ● 2589d

I don't think age should have any relevance regarding whether you should or should not be arrested. Nor being a member of the clergy.

Freddie Francis ● 2589d

I didnt say it did. They are knowingly breaking the law and accepted in advance they would be arrested.

Matt Palmer ● 2589d

Thanks for clarification Matt. Twitter is enraged that a 91 year old man with a stick has been arrested!

Lucille Grant ● 2589d

It would have been his own choice, in the case of a section 14 he was probably warned 2-3 times first.Don't feel sorry for him, feel proud of him.

Matt Palmer ● 2589d

I am proud of his stance and ashamed of myself for not  doing the same. Currently in France tho :-( and not back till 23rd.Also mass kudos to you and everyone else on this peaceful two week demo. Your children will be very proud of you and Clare, Matt.Here we  have Gilets Jaunes who have no real cause for their Saturday demos which are never during the  long holidays. Unlike UK demos the French anti establishment demonstrators burn  cars, break shop windows and cause general disruption in Paris. But it doesn't stop Parisians from carrying on as normal :-)

Lucille Grant ● 2589d

"Twitter is enraged that a 91 year old man with a stick has been arrested!"Twitter seems to get enraged every day about something or other. 🙄 Presumably these two were arrested for breaking the law?  I note that the police are dragging instead of lifting protesters away now because it only takes two officers instead of four. Good 👍🏻 that's making the best use of their resources, but I hope they didn't drag the old gent along the ground.

Sue Hammond ● 2589d

" Good that's making the best use of their resources, but I hope they didn't drag the old gent along the ground."Gosh, you are all heart, you are.

David Ainsworth ● 2589d

Sue if you read the article I posted above you will see a video of the arrest - happy to reassure you that he wasn't 'dragged along'  and the police treated him with respect. His name is John Lynes and he is a Quaker and lifelong campaigner for peace and social justice. Inthe past he has stated "My generation is responsible for the climate emergency."The day  before an 83 year old woman was also arrested - she  said she is more frightened of what is happening  to the environment than  being arrested by the police (she has never been arrested before)Many of those peacefully demonstrating are neither the great unwashed nor are they all feckless youth, it seems. 

Lucille Grant ● 2589d

Nick Ferrari was on LBC this morning speaking about protesters going limp and being dragged away and this one whingeing 'you're hurting me'. His comment 'well you could always walk instead'.😀 This is the report he was referring to, it's so funny!😂https://www.instagram.com/p/B3b6JItjfAA/?igshid=1lqfezgcbco0n

Sue Hammond ● 2589d

Can you imagine Nick Ferrari out protesting?  With a name like that I expect he is a friend of Jeremy Clarkson!

Philippa Bond ● 2589d

@Sue 13.55 'It's so funny'I refer you to David Ainsworth's post @13.36 He says it best.

Lucille Grant ● 2589d

I agree with you Lucille, why?The man is 91 years old and walks with the help of a walking stick.  Hardly a threatening character, I would have thought.Was he breaking the law?  More than likely.  Was he doing so maliciously or aggressively?  I very much doubt it.Perhaps it is time for people to sit back and think of the message he was conveying, more than an act of obtuse obstruction.It is hard to think of a 91 year old with a walking stick being a menace to civil behaviour.  But good for him to protest on such important matters.  My hat off to him.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2589d