Tuesday, 13 September 2022

arresting anti-royalists

The UK's press is full of pieces on the monarchy:

The Queen: Latest news, breaking stories and comment | Daily Mail Online

Which has been an opportunity to 'bury' other news:

When BBC News butted into an episode of Bargain Hunt on BBC One at 12:39pm on 8 September, it triggered an almost unprecedented period of rolling news coverage. For the next 4,641 minutes, the BBC’s main television channel was devoted to little else other than coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s health, death and the transition to King Charles III.
The same is true for newspapers and news websites. Almost immediately, coverage of the normal news agenda ended. As one politics reporter told GQ on the day the Queen died, they knew their reporting would fall by the wayside. Since 8 September, news coverage of the late Queen and new King has become all-encompassing. MailOnline has published 540 stories mentioning “Queen Elizabeth” in the last five days; The Daily Express’s website has pushed 511. The Mirror’s website has shared 445 stories on the royals. (The Guardian was more muted, publishing 173 stories, while The Independent had everyone beaten, with 724 stories mentioning the Queen.)
We’ve become overwhelmed with coverage about a single news event – and from that, comes the opportunity for those seeking to bury bad news. (The now infamous phrase stems from a memo from an adviser to then-UK transport secretary Stephen Byers, who coined the term in an internal memo written on 9/11 2001, saying it was “a good day to bury bad news”.)
“Governments, particularly those who are most cynical working within them, will always seek to make the most out of a tragedy,” says Steven Buckley, associate lecturer in journalism at the University of the West of England. “It is common practice for bad news to be put out at Christmas or New Year when many journalists aren't working in the hope the information goes unnoticed.”

How the government is using the monarchy to bury bad news | British GQ

Nevertheless, there have been a few questions raised about this institution:

King Charles inherits crown with support for monarchy at record low – but future not set in stone

However, over the last couple of days, people protesting against the monarchy in the UK have been arrested:

Arrests of protesters prompt free-speech concerns - BBC News

Is there a right to protest at royal events? - BBC News

King Charles: Police demand protestor’s details after he held up piece of paper outside parliament | The Independent

Prince Andrew heckler arrested for hurling abuse as royals walk behind Queen's coffin

Republican protesters arrested at King Charles proclamations | UK news | The Guardian

What is interesting is the reaction outside the UK to these arrests:

Anti-royal protesters are being arrested in the U.K. : NPR

'Not my king': Anti-monarchist arrests spark criticism in Britain | The Times of Israel

UK police say people 'absolutely have a right to protest' monarchy, despite multiple arrests | SBS News

Why is there concern over free speech in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II's death? | Euronews

And there is the debate on the future of the monarchy in the Commonwealth:

Countries May Cut Ties With Monarchy After Queen's Death | Time

Queen Elizabeth II’s Death Could Jump-Start Efforts to Abolish Monarchy in Former British Colonies - WSJ

In Quebec, the Queen’s death raises questions about future of the monarchy in Canada - The Globe and Mail

Why it would be 'virtually impossible' for Canada to drop the monarchy - KESQ

Is this when New Zealand breaks up with the monarchy? Don’t count on it | Henry Cooke | The Guardian

The Queen and the Caribbean: Elizabeth's death is likely to elevate the region's republic drive | WUSF Public Media

Calls to Leave Monarchy, Demands for Reparations, Strengthen as Charles Becomes King of Jamaica and the Commonwealth

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