45-year-old Oxford history lecturer was detained and transported to a police van on Sunday during the proclamation of King Charles III for yelling “who elected him?”
Symon Hill expressed concern over the British people being forced to accept a Head of State without a democratic election.
Narrating his ordeal to Oxford Mail, Hill said he came across the procession on his way from church, and while bystanders urged him to keep quiet, he responded: “A head of state has been imposed on us without our consent.”
“Two people near me turned to me and told me to shut up, which they have every right to do, and I told them I didn’t think a head of state should be imposed on us,” Hill said.
“I feel very surprised and very shaken, and I feel like my free speech and my dignity as a person has been attacked simply because I expressed an opinion,” he added.
The British constitutional monarchy, according to Hill’s protest, will be out of style in 2022, along with other anti-monarchy demonstrators in the UK.
A 22-year-old woman, with a protest sign, was also arrested outside St Giles’ Cathedral, where the Queen’s coffin was due to be held today.
Shortly after she held out her sign, police officers appeared behind her and took her away, prompting the crowd to applaud.
While a man in the crowd shouted “Let her go, it’s free speech,” others in the crowd said the lady ought to have some respect for the departed queen.