Of course there’s a double-standard in policing
by Lois McLatchie, Artillery Row:
Silent prayer is treated more seriously than outright disorder.
This Sunday, we cherish peace, as we mark the 105th anniversary of the end of one of the bloodiest eras of modern Western history.
Unfortunately, London is far from at peace these days.
Socio-political conflict rages — not only in the cabinet rooms of No.10, but on our streets. Pro-Palestinian marches, featuring some violent and disorderly elements, are set to continue as they have done for the past several weekends, parading over 100,000 protestors through the streets of our capital city. Some UK leaders have called for the marches to be suspended in respect for fallen soldiers. Others defend the freedom to protest as critical to the future of a democratic UK. What do we do when liberalism necessitates platforming an affront to liberalism? Confusion abounds.
But for one army veteran, Blighty’s existential identity crisis hits far closer to home.
Adam Smith-Connor, who served in the army reserves for twenty years including in Afghanistan, will have to continue to fight for his basic freedoms on home turf. This time, in court. The father of two will be in the dock next week for a crime that seems plucked from the pages of dystopian literature. Adam threw no fireworks. He mobbed no elderly volunteers. He didn’t even utter a word — yet held an allegedly illegal thought. Last winter, Adam stopped to pray outside an abortion facility in Bournemouth. He prayed about the son that he lost through an abortion he paid for twenty years ago, and for the men and women making difficult choices that day.
No less than ten minutes later, officers approached to inquire as to “the nature of his prayer”.
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