By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a recent incident at the Tower of London, four individuals were arrested after they defaced the display case housing the Imperial State Crown with custard and apple crumble. The protest, which occurred on Saturday morning, was claimed by Take Back Power, a group advocating for a citizens’ assembly with the power to tax wealth. The Metropolitan Police investigated, temporarily closing the Jewel House before reopening it to the public later in the day, confirming that the Crown was not damaged. This act follows a similar demonstration earlier in the week where the group dumped manure in the Ritz hotel lobby.
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Four people have been arrested after a rather… unconventional act of protest unfolded at the Tower of London. The main event was the defacing of a display case holding part of the Crown Jewels, specifically the Imperial State Crown. The chosen weapons of this rather sticky rebellion? Custard and apple crumble. Now, if that doesn’t scream “British protest,” I don’t know what does.
The Metropolitan Police were quick to respond, arriving on the scene shortly before 10:00 GMT on Saturday. After the incident, the Jewel House was temporarily closed so that the authorities could conduct their investigation. Four individuals were apprehended on suspicion of criminal damage. Take Back Power, a self-proclaimed non-violent civil-resistance group, has taken responsibility for the fruity and creamy assault on the Royal artifact.
Their aim, as stated by the group, was to push the UK government to establish a permanent citizen’s assembly – essentially, a “House of the People.” The assembly’s proposed purpose would be to address issues such as wealth distribution and to act as a voice for the common people, with the power to “tax extreme wealth and fix Britain”. Their tactics, however, left a lot to be desired.
Footage of the event has surfaced online, showcasing a protester removing a tray of crumble from a bag before attempting to slam it against the glass of the display case. Subsequently, a generous serving of bright yellow custard was poured over the case. While some might find it humorous, it also seems like a rather counterproductive way to make a point.
The concept behind the protest, the idea of a citizen’s assembly, does have some merit. It’s not entirely a new concept, nor is it a fully formed new idea. A citizen’s assembly is not quite the same as a House of Commons, which already exists and serves the purpose of elected representatives. But, as an idea, it’s not without potential. These assemblies, often composed of individuals selected through a democratic lottery, have been used to tackle complex and contentious topics. The UK has, in fact, experimented with such assemblies, including one focused on climate change. Ireland, too, has utilized them for significant issues, like the abortion laws. Such assemblies typically consider specific issues, gather expert advice, and make recommendations for solutions.
The downside, as is pointed out, is that the recommendations can be vague and watered down as they move through the system. Perhaps the protest wasn’t about the actual crown jewels but about the symbolic wealth and power they represent. And the current state of affairs of the country and its leadership.
The actions taken by the protesters, however, are a curious choice to bring attention to this issue. It is easy to see the point of the protest, but the methods and manner of the protest are likely to be debated. The act is likely to be viewed as harmless, as the display case is well-protected. At least in the short term, this act of protest is a harmless one. The method is more questionable than the impact.
Ultimately, the protest raises questions about the effectiveness of such actions. Does smearing food on a display case, even in a harmless way, really garner support for a cause? Does it gain the necessary attention to bring about changes? It’s questionable if these tactics help achieve the stated goals of the group. If the goal is, in fact, to spark conversation and raise awareness, then the custard and crumble did the job. But if the goal is to drive real, tangible policy changes, the approach might need a bit of a re-think.