On Wednesday 26 March, Met Police arrested a disabled activist at the peaceful Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) ‘Welfare Not Warfare’ protest in London.
#WelfareNotWarfare
Carole from East London Unite Community Branch got arrested near downing St. she’s been taken to Charing Cross Police Station please get along there if you can.
Video footage & picture from East London Unite Community branch pic.twitter.com/3i4uOKT3AH
— DPAC (@Dis_PPL_Protest) March 26, 2025
From Graham Durham on FB:
Arrived at the Downing Street protest against the Starmer/Reeves cuts in disability benefits to find six police officers arresting an elderly disabled woman and handcuffing her under the Public Order Act … pic.twitter.com/ugaDcpIgMG— Joseph Dickerson (@joekaren46) March 26, 2025
#WelfareNotWarfare: pigs arresting disabled people
Disabled people took to the street to protest the governments vicious planned cuts to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) disability benefits. During the protest, Met Police arrested Carole, from East London Unite Community Branch.
Huge protest outside Downing Street for #WelfareNotWarfare against #DisabilityBenefits cuts. I’d love to show more photos but nearly everyone I know is so unsafe with the DWP that I don’t want to add someone’s pic in the crowd without their consent. The DWP is that terrifying. pic.twitter.com/D8wVA5NBhj
— Dr Jay Watts (@Shrink_at_Large) March 26, 2025
It says it all when the police feel the need to arrest disabled people who are protesting over planned cuts which could kill them.
Hugely symbolic of this country over the past 15 years! #AuthoritarianBritain #WelfareNOTWarfare https://t.co/kv1Ylo6nMj
— @rapsta65.bsky.social (@Rapsta65) March 26, 2025
In the video, originally shared by East London Unite Community branch, officers claim Carole was shouting. However, unless the officers have hearing problems – and lets face it, if they did they wouldn’t be acting like dicks at a disability protest – then they arrested her for no reason.
This is a peaceful protest for the rights of the disabled. This is a disgrace. The officer is saying the lady is shouting! There is no way she is shouting or aggressive. She is very calm considering. What is happening
#WelfareNotWarfare #SpringStatement #DisabilityBenefits https://t.co/K1mttcQLzv
— 4evaBlue (@MrsBlue4eva) March 26, 2025
The officer said I think you’re shouting madam! She was in not was shouting and I thought was very calm.
— 4evaBlue (@MrsBlue4eva) March 26, 2025
It doesn’t get much lower than arresting a disabled protestor:
police detained a disabled protester!! what is this if not a fascist state? https://t.co/1SRKTNYDhz
— miliciana (@NedjmaEPlanas) March 26, 2025
The Met also attempted to stop a Canary journalist filming:
Police trying to stop protestors from filming at downing street including our own @NicolaCJeffery #WelfareNotWarfare pic.twitter.com/OccopMRPuM
— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) March 26, 2025
Three little piggies went to Parliament:
So they are now arresting people for protesting against #DisabilityBenefits CUTS. https://t.co/hjIz42qDSc
— Beach-Crow (@ginadariel) March 26, 2025
The Starmer footsoldiers arrest a senior citizen for peaceful protest. https://t.co/2tHpgEWVyS
— Ever Hard (@Billeverhard) March 26, 2025
Get those animals off those horses
Meanwhile, the Met police literally deployed HORSES – to a disabled protest? Talk about pre-meditated violence. No wonder crime rates are so high when the entirety of the met is sat on horseback chasing disabled people through Westminster.
Police have got fucking horses out for peaceful protest of disabled people #WelfareNotWarfare pic.twitter.com/WoPdUD3dDG
— Canary (@TheCanaryUK) March 26, 2025
Imagine showing this level of power over disabled people protesting
#WelfareNotWarfare https://t.co/yUN5qnnp4W
— Dottie
(@DottieDotted) March 26, 2025
Activists are encouraging people to head to Charing Cross Police Station where Carole is being held, to show support.
Feature image and additional images via the Canary
By HG
This post was originally published on Canary.