Quakers and their supporters gathered outside New Scotland Yard on the 3rd April to hold a peaceful Meeting for Worship, following the recent police raid and arrest of six peaceful activists at Westminster Quaker Meeting House.
The action was organised by Quaker Support for Climate Action, a group which seeks to uphold traditional Quaker values in the face of what it describes as unjust policing tactics.
In keeping with Quaker practice, the gathering outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters was held in silence.
Phil Laurie, facilitator of Quaker Support for Climate Action, explained the purpose of the gathering: “Quaker Meetings for Worship are based on silence. We are holding this Meeting for Worship to envelop the Police HQ in love and peace.
"In raiding the Quaker Meeting House in Westminster, the Metropolitan Police brought violence to a house of peace.
"Our aim is to bring love and peace to replace the police violence and demonstrate a different approach to dealing with difficult situations."
He concluded: “We are a community of worship. We will not be threatened by force into abandoning our principles."
Among those present was Rev Professor Sandra Eldridge, an Associate Priest from the Chelmsford Diocese.
She said: “I’m here because I was saddened when I heard of the police raiding a Quaker meeting house, particularly because of the avowed non-violence of Quakers.
"This is the sort of action you might expect in an authoritarian state - not in a long-standing democracy."
Speaking on the arrests, the Metropolitan Police said: "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."