The protests continued on Monday in the UK over gender violence and policing in the wake of the alleged murder of Sarah Everard.
The arrests were made while hundreds of people in London were protesting outside police headquarters, parliament and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office, according to reports.
Many gathered to oppose the passing of a new policing bill just days after police officers were criticized for using excessive force on a vigil by Everard, where critics say the images showed the police aggressively “mistreating” and handcuffing the mourners.
METROPOLITAN POLICE CHIEF REFUSES TO RESIN AFTER VIOLENT CONTRACTS IN SARAH EVERARD VIGIL
Police officers watch over activists protesting violence against women and proposed new police powers in London, UK, on March 15, 2021. (Photo by David Cliff / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Opponents said the bill would impose harsh sentences on offenders and give the police a lot of power to restrict non-violent protests, according to the Guardian.
“We are here for two reasons. One is to fight against male violence, be it from the State, from partners or from institutions. We are here to honor the lives of women who were murdered by men … And we are here to resist, “said Labor MP Nadia Whittome.
Activists protesting violence against women and proposed new police powers demonstrated in London, UK, on March 15, 2021. (Photo by David Cliff / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
On Monday, protesters held up signs that read: “Educate your children” and “Stop violence against women”. They blocked Westminster Bridge twice and stood in front of a police line outside New Scotland Yard, according to the news website. The chants heard at the demonstration included “united sisters will never be defeated”, “all policemen are bastards” and “who protects us from you?”
Police ordered the protesters to return home and the Guardian said he had witnessed several people being arrested for violating coronavirus rules. Monday’s protest lasted several hours and did not include the same police tactics used during Saturday’s vigil, reports said.
The political focus shifted to the London Metropolitan Police in the last few days after the vigil, which the police said violated the COVID-19 blocking rules, according to Reuters.
LONDON POLICE CRITICIZED FOR CONFLICTS WITH SARAH EVERARD MOURNERS; KATE MIDDLETON VISITS HOURS BEFORE
Cressida Dick, head of the Metropolitan Police, told Sky News that she would not leave her post and that the circumstances surrounding Everard’s death inspired her to continue.
Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, left on a 50-minute walk from a friend’s house in South London around 9 pm on March 3. She never came. On Friday, police confirmed that a body found hidden in a forest 50 miles southeast of the city is hers.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
London police arrested a member of the force’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command on Tuesday as a suspect in the case. On Friday, the police accused the policeman, Officer Wayne Couzens, of kidnapping and murder. Couzens, 48, is due to appear in court on Tuesday.
The murder drew international attention and brought awareness of violence against women and the dangers they sometimes face in everyday activities, such as walking on a street at night.