Eleven arrested as protesters clash with police outside parliament on ‘Freedom Day’
Demonstrators chant ‘arrest Boris Johnson’ while holding signs saying ‘say no to the Covid vaccine’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police during a demonstration outside parliament on the same day that Covid restrictions in England were eased.
Video showed an angry confrontation between crowds of predominantly men and police near Downing Street on Monday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police said 11 people had been arrested “for a variety of offences”, adding that “sadly officers have been met with hostility while engaging with crowds”.
Police were earlier forced to close roads in Westminster after a group of demonstrators gathered to voice their opposition to coronavirus curbs and vaccines on so-called Freedom Day.
Protesters chanted “arrest Boris Johnson” and “shame on police” while holding signs saying “say no to the Covid vaccine” and “vax passport = digital slavery”.
An officer was seen to put a lock on a gate at the entrance to parliament during the protest.
The timing of the demonstration raised eyebrows, coming on the same day that almost all of the coronavirus rules were dropped by the government, despite warnings from health experts about the impact on the spread of the virus.
Social-distancing rules ended at one minute past midnight on Monday, while face masks are no longer mandatory in shops and on public transport and limits on gathering have been removed.
A Twitter user remarked: “Anti Lockdown protest outside Westminster on ‘Freedom day’ when all Covid restrictions end. Some people can’t take yes for an answer.”