iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Harriet Salisbury @endlessyesterday.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

As has been stated, freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of the free public debate which must underpin any democracy. We cannot accept these unprovoked arrests as some kind of new normal

041

Peter Timson @peterjohn.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The times I’ve visited Quaker meeting houses there’s never been an atmosphere more peaceful. Crazy stuff.

Ron Hitchens @ronsoft.com · 29/03/2025

WTF?

000

Mark F @markfford.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Welcome back to the mid-1600’s.

1130

Del @del88.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

📌

alistair g👋 @alistairblantyre.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

😮

000

Gem&Molly ⓥ @gemandmoll.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

This is appalling.

Ben Knight @benjamin-knight.com · 29/03/2025

This is on the back of Tory legislation from the last administration. You may recall most of the media (and much of the public) supporting it because it was 'aimed at' XR and JSO. Now...what *was* the meeting? Sewing circle? XR? ISIS? Gunpowder Plotters?

061

MikeyG @mrg102.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

We've gone back to the era of William Penn and people are being arrested for "rioting" when sat peacefully.

0240

Defender 🌱 ⓋFTA (#Pigoneer 🐽) @grahanimal.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I wonder what triggered this though. British Stasi? The removal of the right to protest is horrific but I'm perhaps even more concerned with how the media is so often complicit by demonising it and manufacturing false intersubjective realities.

172

Maggie Massam @maggiemassam.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

What are they accused of? This is truly shocking.

Physicist @fizzisist.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I wonder what all those people who swore blind that Labour would swerve to the left after the election are thinking now? Are they simply doubling down or are they going to own their mess?

0140

Mumja @mumja1.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I don’t any more. Haim Bresheeth, Asa Winstanley (where’s the justification for raiding his home?) And many more. They just want to stop free speech; it’s having the opposite effect.

070

Geoff Treseder @geofftreseder.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Spy cops still active.

Mial Pagan @mialp.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I look forward to the day when we have a former human rights lawyer as PM to address these issues. 😒

090

Mial Pagan @mialp.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

In the same spirit some balanced reporting from the BBC News... 'most loathed'. If they used that phrase about Farage or BP the RW press would be up in arms. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Has the UK's most loathed protest group really stopped throwing soup?

Just Stop Oil says it will disband but does this mark an end to the chaos caused by its climate protests?

293

pushkin99.bsky.social @pushkin99.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Thanks for posting this George. Quakers are no strangers to being imprisoned for wanting a better world.

Hugh Barnard @hughbarnard.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Yes, I think the Met is now probably emboldened by Trump's 'project'.

Peter Foden @ysgrifnlaw.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The scariest line in this report is at the end: this is what happens when Society criminalises protest - this kind of fascism is actually quite popular

041

ToBeBooks @tobebooks.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Not the Quakers! Who can object to the Quakers! Leave ‘em alone.

Phil King @philking.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social care to explain why this story isn't plastered across the rest of the Beeb?

153

A. A. @arch45.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Coming soon to your local house of worship in the United States.

000

Mads @blueforpwme.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Wow, what was disruptive about their meeting?

Kathleen 🌲 @mossgatherer.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The situation in Cardiff of police using live facial recognition cameras "to keep visitors safe" and then giving penalties for wearing a face covering in public should be a national call to action but people really believe "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" www.south-wales.police.uk/news/south-w...

south-wales.police.uk

Extra Live Facial Recognition cameras to be deployed in Cardiff city centre to keep visitors safe

South Wales Police will be deploying additional live facial recognition cameras in Cardiff during this year’s Six Nations rugby internationals.

927799

Kane Clements📎 @kaneclements11.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

FFS George. The Quakers. The QUAKERS?!!! They have been providing a moral compass for centuries. Non violent! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

1112

Tractor Boy🚜 #FBPE 🇪🇺 🇵🇸🇺🇦 @tommoitfc.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Absolutely outrageous, and the worst thing is that it is not being reported is it?

Gill Tavner @gilltav.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Join us in Parliament Square on April 26th to show that you intend to be part of a peaceful resistance against the march of authoritarianism, corruption, fascism and destruction. Our power is in the numbers refusing to be complicit. We are our own superpower.

021

AnthonyF272 @anthonyf272.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Are we heading in this direction?

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social posted: The Trump regime will round younip off the street and arrest you because you spoke your mind. And federasl agents in plain clothes and unmarked cars who refuse to identify themselves will be the ones to do it. It's fascism. Call it what it is.

081

AnthonyF272 @anthonyf272.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

How did they know what was going on in a closed meeting?

4130

AnthonyF272 @anthonyf272.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

This is really sinister. The fact that Starmer didn't cancel the Tory anti-protest laws makes me think he is reading the playbook from Trump's crowd. His lack of pushback against Trump's madness is very worrying. We will not benefit from any deals Trump chooses to make with us.

48616

Strangetown @strangetown.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Perhaps you could ask, Mr. Monbiot why the Guardian is not reporting on this? Because it's tumbleweed from them

Andy Aitken @andykaitken.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

As an atheist, I heartily condemn the action that led to the arrest of young women in a meeting. Gone is Freedom of Speech in the UK. We follow Russia, China, Myanmar, and USA.

Aedeen @aedeencaplin.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The laws are regressive and erosion of democratic right to meet and protest. But, hey, l’m probably not even allowed to think or express these views judging by this.

Mr too tired for a halloween name @laotianrockrat.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

In your experience as a journalist what reason can you think of for this not being reported in any major UK news outlet, such as the one you work for?

Iona Brand @mikeiona.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Quakers! Fucking Quakers!! Did no one stop and do a reality check in this!!?

Alan B @gallonofalan.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Don't arrest any farmers for actually shutting down London rather than talking about it or anything.

Stebund @stebund.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

This a Quaker account of events. Not saying its incorrect.. but is there a different account to consider b4 reporting?

130

Viscount Pontypandy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @viscountpontypandy.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Outrageous and deeply disturbing!

@PatrickCosgrove.bsky.social @axj866.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I suggest that every Quaker meeting house across the country meets on a set day to discuss Palestine and Gaza in order to test out the reaction.

Sam P-F @smhwpf.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Any thoughts on why every MSM outlet in the UK has ignored it, even though CNN covered it? They can't cover everything, but I'd have thought that the Guardian at least would have thought it highly newsworthy. Just slipped through a crack? Or more sinister like a D notice or "obeying in advance"?

Teresa @bravexx.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

As an American, I sympathize. Thanks for your reporting. Your voice is needed.

Dr Caz 🌳🇪🇺 🇺🇦🔸 @drcj.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Hopefully there’s more to this than meets the eye, that the police had other info they were acting on. Because if not, this is terrifying.

3131

Monica Jamieson @mjamies.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

What the actual f*ck?

Peter Welsh @peterwelsh68.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I presume NFU area meetings and Young Farmer shindigs will be next to get some taser focus from the police to prevent future tractor blockades?

0201

Jane @woolner.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The fallout from the Tory ‘far right’ government & its repercussions on a policy that needs to be repealed, reversed, gotten rid-of. #fascism

18thcenturyboy.bsky.social @18thcenturyboy.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I would have thought that Labour would have repealed the relevant anti-protest laws, promulgated by the extreme-right Tory regime of infamous memory, by now. That they haven´t done so shows that they are basically the same as the Tory Nazi nutters.

Celtic Thatcher @skulking-loafer.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Starmer's Gov trying their hardest to impress the Nerd Reich and avoid the tariffs next week

Cate @woozlewin.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Met: Youth Demand have stated an intention to ‘shut down’ London over the month of April. “While we absolutely recognise the importance of the right to protest, we have a responsibility to intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality”

150

Raj Thamotheram @rajtham.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I trust @quaker.org.uk will respond. It's emblematic of loss of freedoms and it's relevant to all Brits - whatever your views about Palestine/Israel or the climate crisis. This is from a senior State Dept official who resigned re Gaza. It's relevant to the UK too. www.linkedin.com/posts/josh-p...

The struggle for Palestinian humanity has become inseparable from the struggle for American democracy.

For 15 months under Biden it was already clear that Palestine was the leading indicator of American global decline - of the collapse of our moral leadership, of our abandonment of the rules based order. Today, it is also clear that Palestine is on the leading edge of American domestic decline.

084

Ray Alexander @rayalexander73.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Fuck. Israeli. Spyware.

Ray Alexander @rayalexander73.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Fuck. The. Police.

David McCulloch @photodave.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

We are not creeping towards fascism. We are lurching towards it - dragged along by those intent on oppression and the extortion of wealth and power.

LindyWilliams3 @lindywilliams3.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

George, this is excruciating. What on earth can we do? Do we know what charges were brought against these six women?

Pablobrooker @paulobro.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Hopefully they won't do any porridge 😬

2140

Emma Waghorn @waggery.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

More details here: morningstaronline.co.uk/article/six-...

morningstaronline.co.uk

Six Youth Demand campaigners arrested while attending meeting in London

Amias Channer @amias.net · 29/03/2025

Its fascinating that a religion that specifically opposes war is taken less seriously than major religions who have all had holy wars. Religions promote the afterlife which makes people accept ruining their real lives and real planet for baseless promises of the impossible .

Maggie D @maggied303.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Is this being reported in major newspapers?

230

writeon1 @writeon1.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Why isn't this on the front page of The Guardian?

Sally Luxmoore @sallyl.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

As an atheist, I see nothing special about religious people, nor about religious buildings. Entering such a building to perform an arrest does not cause me concern. What I want to know, however, is the grounds given for the arrest.

220

Sally Luxmoore @sallyl.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

If you are arrested, the police have to tell you on what grounds they are arresting you. If you are charged, you have to be told what the charges are. What are the grounds or the charges (if any) in this case?

130

Brenda Gough @brendagough.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

George...the British Gov't interned thousands of its citizens in the 1970s, without evidence or trial. They then murdered civil rights activists who marched in protest. Of course it can happen. It already has. Or do the "micks" not count?

0110

Savio Carvalho @savioconnects.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

It has been happening for over 400+ years ! A political party is just the name. The system does not change with the party - its continues to digs its heels in a new garb.

031

Steve Isle @silas1951.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

We need to know who ordered the arrests and on what grounds. The police are ultimately responsible to the public, not politicians.

171

Yosemite Sam @yosemitesocs.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Wow, how many days after the fact before even the Guardian reports on this matter? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

theguardian.com

Met raids Quaker meeting house and arrests six women at Youth Demand talk

At least 20 officers forced their way into property and police said some present were planning direct action in London

062

Yosemite Sam @yosemitesocs.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

And is this more widely reported? Why the fuck can't I find this on the BBC News website or the Guardian?

090

Rob Devonshire 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 @joeyfurtado.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I don't understand how this happens in long-standing democracies with an incoming autocracy. Can the average police officer or military personnel, who joins to protect their nation from external aggressors or internal criminals, not have a conscience & refuse to support this kind of stuff.

Nestor @nes-tor.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

i expect @london.gov.uk issue a statement on religious freedom in Europe.

Dr Jane McCarthy @drjanemc.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

bsky.app/profile/leon...

Tina Leonard 🧡💙@leonard3tina.bsky.social

🕯️Quaker Meeting for Worship🕯️ Upholding our worshipping community & Westminster Friends Outside New Scotland Yard 3 April 12-1pm Anyone who wishes to join us will be most welcome, of all faiths or none (exact location to be posted on Wednesday) @quaker.org.uk @ccanl.bsky.social

062

alectorious.bsky.social @alectorious.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

they may have bitten off more than they can chew, you don't mess with the Quakers!

Murray Lark 🇿🇼 @geostatlark.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I am not a Quaker, but I hold them in great admiration. The British Police are and always have been enforcers for the rich and powerful

Philip Barnard @philipb1793.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

1790s all over again!!

GhostWarrior ⚔️🏳️‍🌈 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @ghostwarrior.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Quakers FFS!😠 🤦

130

The Mabozza @themabozza.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

I want to know more about why the Met did this, the intelligence which led 20 to 30 officers to raid a church for 6 people. I want to know who sanctioned it and on which legal grounds. There has been little or nothing from The Met in explanation, which may be telling, in itself.

Bridport33 @bridport33.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Wow,this government is proving to be a major disappointment.😔😔

1130

mikel-snapper.bsky.social @mikel-snapper.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Worrying

Babeaware @babeawear.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

One would expect this to have take place in the US as its admin is a fascist government right now, but in the UK…I’m shocked…over the Gaza issues…wow UK you have a problem here!!!

000

Dame Rainbow Warrior @damerainbowwarrior.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I initially thought it was America!

170

oldun.bsky.social @oldun.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Approx 134000 Palestinians and Arabs killed by Israel since 1948 and thousands displaced.Hamas were stupid to be allowed Oct 7. However Israel killings and displacement far exceed reasonable response.

Johnny Ninefingers @johnnyninefingers.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

WTAF! The far-right's infiltration and infestation of our body politic extends through the BBC, our political parties, our legislature, judiciary, police, and armed forces. Were the individual cops happy to be breaking up a Quaker meeting? We all need to take a stand and refuse some orders.

1191

Simon Oldridge @sioldridge.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Utter disgrace. For those who missed it, these anti-protest laws were actually written by an oil industry funded lobby group. www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-mone...

opendemocracy.net

Sunak admits think tank helped write anti-protest laws

The PM confirmed Policy Exchange helped draft laws targeting climate activists, as first revealed by openDemocracy

9633296

Dusty Wombat @dustywombat.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

To be fair, the Society Of Friends have a long record of standing up for and working towards achieving what they believe is the right things to do. Abolition of slavery for example.

1161

Timo Betcke @timobetcke.me · 29/03/2025

The suppression of discussion of the genocide of Palestinians reminds me more and more of the suppression of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey.

Sarah Richards @sarahrichards.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

bsky.app/profile/leon...

Tina Leonard 🧡💙@leonard3tina.bsky.social

🕯️Quaker Meeting for Worship🕯️ Upholding our worshipping community & Westminster Friends Outside New Scotland Yard 3 April 12-1pm Anyone who wishes to join us will be most welcome, of all faiths or none (exact location to be posted on Wednesday) @quaker.org.uk @ccanl.bsky.social

Signal Noise Ratio 😷🇪🇺🍸 @jbond23.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

"conspiracy to cause a public nuisance" is a good all purpose crime that could be used for pretty much anything, like say, imprisoning someone for being on a Whatsapp chat.

Mullins Here @mullinshere.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

This was quite a shock to me!

zeltus @zeltus.fun · 29/03/2025

Appalling. The UK is fast becoming a police state. The only thing holding it back is the incompetence of the police themselves.

Stu in France @stufloydy.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Never in the history of the Quaker movement in the UK, has a place of worship been invaded and desecrated by the police. Truly shocking. #Labour should be ashamed.

3239

cwmcastell.bsky.social @cwmcastell.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I think the phrase is 'shocked but not suprised'. Disgusted also applies. The comprehensive clampdown on all independent thought and action is happening across Europe as well as, obviously, in the US. We are in the process of losing The Enlightenment.

Alexander Hay @alexanderhay.myatproto.social · 29/03/2025

Going after Quakers in a Meeting House is an alarm bell. Then again, Cameron sending goons to smash up The Guardian's hard drives, the Battle of the Beanfield, and the Peterloo Massacre were all alarm bells too. If they think they can get away with it, they will do it.

lauramellstrom.bsky.social @lauramellstrom.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Why are the mainstream media not covering this? Not even the Guardian?

Helen Reemers @rhoces.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Is discussion banned now?

2231

Wot a complete Barry @bickiecuppatea.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

📌

David53 @david1357.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

We are heading down a dark dark road to authoritarianism. A quaker meeting house has never been invaded by the authorities as far as I know, as a historian, since the 17th century. @mrjamesob.bsky.social

070

Laurie Dunkin Wedd @ldw1.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

“Conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.” The Met Police consolidate their terrible reputation. 😡😡😡

1123

Al @alyb.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Meanwhile a bunch of people meet in a private hall called Westminster and plan to strip money from the most vulnerable in society and the Police guard the door and do nothing… hmm

0554

Dr David Weston🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇺🇦 @drdave89.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

And the craven slowness of the press was complicity.

Andrene@phytobelief @phytobelief.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I cannot believe this happened. This is a HUGE red flag.

070

Alastair #FBPE 🇪🇺🇵🇸 🇺🇦🇨🇦 @alastairh4h.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The State we’re in… 😐

towdlass.bsky.social @towdlass.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Shocking!

DamonTheDemon @damonthedemon.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Ne’er a more rancid, corrupt, not fit for purpose organisation has ever existed than the Met Police. An institution thats racist, sexist and serving as enforcers for the establishment. Disgusting. 🤮

1221

Pirateking Blues Jazz Rock Radio @pkradio.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

ICE raids Spanish versus America soccer match!

100

Carol Brozman @carolbrozman.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Religon? What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again….

ChrisRauchle @chrisrauchle.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Kier better do summat quick smart

140

Dennis Patton @dennispatton.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Yvette Janus Cooper: "the right to protest must always be balanced against the freedom for everybody else to go about their daily lives. The police already have powers to place conditions on protests."

000

Lynne Bowers @lynnebowers.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I wonder who alerted the police?

Elisabeth Murray @lizthelemming.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

How did the police know the meeting was happening...?

090

lara3000.bsky.social @lara3000.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Not exactly arbitrary 🙄

pmf @clearlight.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

It’s disturbing that the latest anti-dissent legislation effectively bans protest within 10 mins walk of a synagogue, while armed cops can break into a Quaker meeting house to arrest people for *talking* about peacefully protesting climate change and genocide morningstaronline.co.uk/article/edit...

morningstaronline.co.uk

Yet more anti-protest laws: a bid to crush the peace movement

033

pmf @clearlight.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Bit more detail on the protest group being targeted for police repression morningstaronline.co.uk/article/six-...

morningstaronline.co.uk

Six Youth Demand campaigners arrested while attending meeting in London

081

pmf @clearlight.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

UN has raised concerns with the UK about multiple cases of repression of protected dissent under the Aarhus Convention unece.org/sites/defaul...

unece.org

023

Graham Wilson @drgw.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Totally agree. I have written to my MP @calummillerld.bsky.social asking him to support Quaker MPs in demanding accountability for this.

Bernie Scroggins @berniescroggins.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

The rise of the oligarchy. Jack London was right. Hopefully he was also right that this will eventually end with something better.