Million Mask March: Orwellian-style warnings present at anti-austerity demonstration
The message ‘Failure to comply may result in arrest and prosecution’ was beamed onto London’s National Gallery as a reminder to protesters
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Your support makes all the difference.Despite the significant police presence and Orwellian-inspired warnings seen in the video above, London’s Million Mask March saw widespread disorder. Protesters threw missiles, torched a police car and set off fireworks outside of Parliament.
The message, ‘Please observe Public Order Act restrictions. Failure to comply may result in arrest and prosecution’ was beamed onto the National Gallery, with many drawing similarities to George Orwell’s 1984.
Scotland Yard said nearly 50 arrests were made, most for public order offences but two men were arrested for assaulting police officers.
Police say they recovered "a range of items including knives, smoke and paint grenades, gas canisters and lock picks" from three men aged 38, 50 and 55.
An agreed route and timetable for the demonstration was not followed.
Static protests were supposed to be restricted to Trafalgar Square, the centre of Parliament Square and within the barriers on the East Footway of Whitehall, opposite Downing Street.
The demonstration was also only to be held between 6pm and 9pm, but police cordoned off the area until midnight.
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