Organisers of ‘Not My King’ protests against Charles distance themselves from Piers Corbyn
An anti-monarchy campaign group responsible for staging a series of ‘Not My King’ demonstrations called criticizing Charles “fair game” and admitted harassing the late Queen would have been unpopular with the public, may MailOnline exclusive reveal today.
Republic, which staged protests against the king in the run-up to the coronation in May, labeled the monarch “just a dude in a suit who spends a lot of our money.”
Chief executive Graham Smith told MailOnline that Charles should be criticized like any other politician – but in an attempt to explain why the group staged more protests against the king than his late mother, he admitted: “The Queen was held in reverence and it scared people off. criticize her directly. We were aware that harassing her would not go down well.”
He also distanced himself from his movement of anti-vaxxer Piers Corbyn after the brother of ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s conspiracy theorist attempted to hijack yesterday’s protest in Colchester, when King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla visited the town.
Mr Smith told MailOnline: ‘Charles is a completely different person. He just inherited the throne and inheritance is a problem.
Crowds of well-wishers had gathered to greet the monarch, but among them were anti-monarchy demonstrators who waved ‘Not My King’ banners and shouted at Charles (pictured) to ‘come over and talk to your critics’
The protest in Colchester yesterday was the last to be staged by Republic, who have vowed to hold a series of protests in the run-up to and during the coronation
“We think now is the right time to push our message. We did protest against the Queen, as in the jubilee year 2012.
“Other people certainly had more respect for the Queen. The queen enjoyed reverence and it kept people from criticizing her directly. We were aware harassing her would not go down well.
“But everything has changed, it’s a completely different monarchy. This has changed the nature of the campaign.’
The group believes that hereditary public office goes against every democratic principle and ultimately wants to abolish monarchy.
Instead, they want a head of state elected by the public who keeps politicians in check.
Mr Smith continued: ‘If you think politicians are fair game for harassment and protests, you should see Charles in the same way. The queen felt it was real. Charles is just a dude in a suit who spends a lot of our money.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at Colchester Castle to mark the recently granted city status
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla greet some schoolchildren outside Colchester Castle
Anti-monarchy demonstrators were also part of the crowd that had gathered to greet the King in Colchester, Essex
He should be treated like a politician. Heads of state should be fair game for criticism.”
The group plans to protest in York next month when King Charles visits, claiming they have signed up 1,000 supporters to protest along the processional route at his coronation on May 6.
Republic also took steps to distance itself from Piers Corbyn, saying “He has no relation whatsoever to our cause,” after the conspiracy theorist was spotted among protesters yesterday.
Mr Smith made it clear ‘he is not part’ of their group and was there for a different purpose after the covid conspiracy theorist waved signs linking the king to the World Economic Forum and Jimmy Savile.
Corbyn, 75, was seen yesterday at the demonstration in Colchester, where King Charles and Queen consort Camilla visited to mark the newly granted city status.
Crowds of well-wishers had gathered to greet the monarch, but among them were anti-monarchy demonstrators waving ‘Not My King’ banners and calling for the Royal to ‘come over and talk to your critics’.
The protest was the latest organized by Republic, who have vowed to hold a series of protests leading up to and during the coronation, including in York next month.
Also there was the brother of former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, and some of his supporters, who held a banner objecting to what he said was Charles’s support of the World Economic Forum.
Piers Corbyn, 75, was seen holding a yellow placard reading ‘Charles must serve the UK, not the tyranny of the World Economic Forum’ at yesterday’s demonstration in Colchester, Essex
A member of Piers Corbyn’s enoutrage yesterday at an anti-monarch demonstration in Colchester called on Charles to ‘serve the tyranny of the UK, not the WEF’
Graham Smith distanced himself from Corbyn’s protest today, saying: “He’s not part of Republic.
“He was quite far from us and there for a completely different matter. He has no connection to our case. I’ve never seen him before.
“There was a lot of publicity about us being there, but he wasn’t anywhere near us.”
Corbyn, an anti-vaccine activist who was one of the spotted banners, appeared to speak out on climate and the World Economic Forum during the royal visit.
He was photographed holding a yellow placard that read, “Charles must serve the UK, not the tyranny of the World Economic Forum.”
Corbyn has focused on the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset” initiative, an economic recovery plan in response to the pandemic.
Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers (right) is a well-known conspiracy theorist who has made claims that the coronavirus is linked to 5G mobile networks. Pictured with him during the August 29, 2020 demo is repulsed nurse Kate Shemirani (left), who has also voiced conspiracy theories about the disease
More than 10,000 covid conspiracy theorists who believe the virus is a hoax gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square on August 29, 2020 to protest lockdown restrictions and vaccination programmes. Piers Corbyn has been fined for his role in this protest
Last November, the meteorologist and climate skeptic stood up for Oxfordshire County councilors to tell them that ‘manmade climate change does not exist’ as he opposed measures to reduce traffic.
The meeting was subsequently used by conspiracy theorists around the world to advance unfounded claims of climate change lockdowns in a post-pandemic ‘Great Reset’ era.
Corbyn attended dozens of anti-lockdown protests across the country during the pandemic, including events in London, Manchester and Bristol.
Last year he was ordered to pay more than £1,000 after breaking Covid rules by attending anti-lockdown protests in the capital.
At a protest in Trafalgar Square, more than 10,000 Covid deniers gathered to demonstrate against restrictions and the vaccine.
The Unite for Freedom rally saw speeches by Corbyn and other conspiracy theorists such as David Icke and fired nurse Kate Shermirani.
He was also arrested in May 2021 at a protest in Hyde Park where he spread his anti-vax message through a microphone.
That year he also ran in the London mayoral election, stating he would ‘end the lockdown on day one’ in the role.
He finished 11th with 20,604 votes, while his party, Let London Live, came 12th in the London Assembly election with 15,755 votes.