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The CEO of an anti-monarchie organisation who was arrested during King Charles's Coronation on Saturday says police should hang their heads in shame.
Graham Smith from Republic was arrested with several other members for holding a peaceful protest.
He says the arrests have destroyed any trust that might have existed between peaceful protesters and the Metropolitan police.
Smith says the right to protest is one of the most profound and important rights in a democracy and no longer exists in the UK
" Many people will disagree with what we were protesting about, but that right to protest must be protected. Anyone may find themselves wanting to protest against a government policy, a grave injustice or in solidarity with victims of a visiting world leader. Such protests must always be freely conducted as a matter of right, not on the basis of permission from the state."
The UK's Metropolitan Police, however, said they received information that individuals would attempt to deface public monuments with paint, breach barriers and disrupt the official movements.
Commander Karen Findlay said they warned the public that their tolerance for any disruption would be low and they would deal robustly with anyone intent on undermining the historic celebration.
She says a total of 52 arrests have been made for offences including affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Smith, however, says the officers on the ground showed no judgment, sense or common decency.
"I have campaigned on the issue of the monarchy for twenty years. Time and again I have been told the monarchy protects us from tyranny, that the monarch guards our democracy and freedoms, defending us against the excesses of government. These arrests put the lie to those claims and are another example of the weakness of our constitution and the failure of our constitutional monarchy," he said.
Smith also wrote a book entitled "Abolish the Monarchie" that will hit the shelves in June.
Republic had hundreds of placards saying "Not My King" confiscated by police.
Smith says their arrests were not about protecting people from harm, but about protecting the King from embarrassment.
"As much as possible we will continue to protest wherever Charles goes, wherever William goes. We will continue to protest with one simple message: Charles is not our king, it is time to abolish the monarchy," said Smith.
