#Symon hill

[readingbibooks]

“Biphobic attitudes are often linked to assumptions that bisexuals cannot be monogamous. Many religious communities have little understanding of polyamory, but this is not the issue here. Even monogamous bisexuals have to deal with an assumption that they will cheat on their partners. In 2015, I wrote a comment piece in the Church Times to mark Bisexual Visibility Day on 23 September. Two weeks later, the letters page included a letter from a reader who said that 'Homosexual behaviour may be tolerated' in an exclusive rela-tionship, but that 'Bisexual behaviour cannot be anything other than promiscuity! He asked, 'Is the author suggesting that the Church advocate sexual promiscuity?'

Since coming out as a bisexual Christian, I have found a number of Christians who are okay with people being gay but less okay with bisexuality. This is partly because of this prejudicial assumption about promiscuity. However, there are other reasons too. Within Christianity, 'conservative' Christians have often dictated the terms of the debate, putting the pro-equality wing on the defensive. Thus, debates get bogged down in contrasting interpretations of the tiny number of biblical passages that can be interpreted as forbidding same-sex relationships.

One of the most bizarre 'liberal' arguments is to claim that the apparent condemnations of homosexual behaviour in the Bible are not condemning gay people but were aimed at heterosexuals who were also interested in sex with people of their own gender.

I am surprised how often this argument is made. As a bisexual, I struggle to make sense of it. Who are these 'heterosexual' people who are interested in sex with people of their own gender? I can suggest a word for people who are sexually attracted to both men and women; it is not 'heterosexual'. The logical conclusion of this argument is that these passages are not condemning gay and lesbian people; they are condemning bisexuals.”

- Symon Hill, Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain

[tomorrowusa]

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) is a living national treasure of democracy.

Rep. Raskin visited with Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders-Townsend at MSNBC's The Weekend to talk about a number of issues.

He said Trump "came back to the scene of the crime" with his first visit to Capitol Hill since 06 January 2021. Trump met with GOP members of both chambers who ignored the fact that he put their lives at risk with his coup attempt.

Of course Trump offered no apology for his endangerment of their lives or for his damage to American institutions of democracy. It says a lot about the mindset of most Republicans these days that they will suffer no humiliation too great to show their grovelling loyalty to wannabe dictator Trump.

Rep. Raskin also talked about the GOP Supreme Court's NRA-friendly approval of the use of "bump stocks" – devices that permit assault rifles to be converted into machine guns.

Republicans willingly gave up their claim to being the party of law and order so they could incessantly pander to Trump's lust for dictatorship and to empower the NRA's goal of putting machine guns in the hands of every nutjob in the country.

This election requires more personal effort than previous ones. Be willing to do more grassroots work and make our case to low-information voters you may know.

[demifiendrsa]

The Eric Andre Show | Season 6 Official Trailer

Season 6 of the The Eric Andre Show will premiere on Adult Swim on June 4, 2023 at midnight (effectively June 5, 2023).

[pinkmoonastro]

💰 Easiest Placements for wealth 💰

Creativity manifested into materials. These placements help creating abundance be more of a second nature. Rather through mentorship or investing time into particular interest.

Jupiter in the 2nd House

Mark Zuckerberg, Jay Z, Bill Gates, Selena Gomez, Madonna, Lee Van Cleef, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, William Shakespeare, Kylie Jenner, Julia Roberts, Donald Trump, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Celine Dion, Ivana Trump, Zendaya, Steve Ballmer (mircosoft)

Jupiter in the 8th House

Coco Chanel, Drake, Micheal Jackson, Tiger Woods, John F Kennedy, Joe Biden, Gigi Hadid, Janet Jackson, Al Capone, LeBron James, Pierre Balmain, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Ray Charles, Jennifer Lawrence. Naomi Campbell, Ellen DeGeneres, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ashanti, Mr Beast

Pluto in the 2nd House

Robert Downey Jr., Lauryn Hill, Cher, Robert Deniro, Johnny Depp, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Marilyn Manson, Michael B. Jordan, Usher, Bill Gates, Ari Fletcher, Phil Knight (nike)

Moon in the 2nd House

Elon Musk, Princess Diana, Pablo Escobar, Lee Iacocca, Blueface, Miuccia Prada, Lauren London, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Avril Lavigne, NBA Youngboy, Coco Chanel, Beyonce, AR AB, Raven Symone, Demi Moore, Kai Cenat, SZA, Kendall Jenner

Do you have any of these placements?

[movies-to-add-to-your-tbw]

Title: Alvin and the Chipmunks

Rating: PG

Director: Tim Hill

Cast: Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, Veronica Alicino, Allison Karman, Tiara Parker, Kira Verrastro, Beth Riesgraf, Adriane Lenox, Don Tiffany, Frank Maharajh, Kevin Symons

Release year: 2007

Genres: comedy, family, fantasy

Blurb: Struggling songwriter Dave Seville finds success when he comes across a trio of singing chipmunks: mischievous leader Alvin, brainiac Simon, and chubby, impressionable Theodore.

[symunuk]

A Non-Exhaustive List Of Player Choices That Will Affect Symon's Approval Rating

High-fiving Gale

"Say please" option with Lae'zel when recruiting her

Letting Aradin and Zevlor do their own punching

Playing along with the lies Volo is penning about the goblin attack at the Grove.

Pocketing Mattis' ring - but only as a joke

Treating Alfira with kindness (to her face at least)

Extorting Barcus when you get him off the windmill

Avoiding suspicion from Dror Ragslin when interrogating the mindflayer

Standing up for Youth Varrl in the Creche

Taking the Blood of Lathander and escaping with all party members

Talking through all of Rolan's options at Last Light Inn (specifically because he keeps having to turn around to talk to you, not because of anything he's saying)

Being nice to the kids at Last Light

Defeating Thisobald without fighting

Defeating Yurgir without fighting

Lying to get across the bridge to Wyrmrock, but specifically if you have a permit.

Getting yourself turned into cheese

Choosing the right options with the story-cat in Baldur's Gate

Using a positive relationship with Dolly Thrice to get the printing press to cooperate (gods, what a sentence)

Giving Mol her pact back

Allowing Lae'zel to intimidate Zorru into kneeling

(Insert a number of 'intimidation' options here - unless they're standing up for someone notably young or weak)

Punching Zevlor (Punching Aradin is fine)

Trusting Ethel - at any point

Killing the owlbear mother

Picking anything but "Mayrina and your scalp, please" at the end of Ethel's lair

Choosing to whip the rothé in Grymforge

Helping Headmaster Skarjall clear the rubble in Grymforge

Getting in the zaith'isk instead of Lae'zel

Drinking from Jaheira's cup (without faking it)

Getting caught during hide and seek (don't be an amateur!)

Sending him up on stage with Dribbles

Insulting Kira

Allying with Gortash without assuring Karlach you were lying/will turn on him.

Casting silence on Raphael in his fight

Handing over the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength

Telling Wyll he should re-sign his pact if you're allied with Gortash, falsely or not (will still vocally disapprove on a pact sign, but this combo makes the actual approval go down)

Making a pact with Raphael

( @gemshroud this was such a fun idea)

[crliny-1]

Here's a list of Fake Woke, Fake pro-Black, spineless DNC politicians and shills Black Americans should NEVER TRUST! 🎯🤷🏿‍♂️🤨

• Jamal “Fire alarm” Bowman

• Mayor Eric “Gandhi” Adams

• Mayor Brandon Johnson

• Jasmin “Warrior Mammie” Crockett

• Sheila “Oxtail” Jackson Lee

• Jim “fish fry” Clyburn

• Nina “flip-flopper” Turner

• Hakeem “HouseNigga” Jeffries

• Van “Crying kneegrow” Jones

• Cornell “Safe kneegrow” West

• Cori “New nigga” Bush

• Snoop

• Roland “the Buckdancing Bo0tlick” Martin

• Joy “JackAzz” Reid

• Michael Eric Dyson

• Ayanna Pressley

• Cornell Brooks

• Derrick “WeEz aLLz iMmIgRaNtS” Johnson

• Rev. William Barber “The Pork Chop Preacher”

• TD Cakes

• Stacey “Hamburger helper” Abrams

• Bakari Sellout

• Marc “LaMoist” Hill

• Corny Jemele Hill

• Al “FBI” Sharpton

• April Ryan

• Jelani Cobb

• Donna Brazile

• Jaime Harrison

• James Sanders

• Basil Smikle

• Tiffany Crosseyes

• Karen Hunter

• Kerry Washington

• Tamika “Cadillac” Mallory

• P-Lies

• QuestLove

• Jonathan “Buck broken” Caphart

• Gary “Black & brown” Chambers

• Symone “Big back” Sanders

• Greg “the PanAfric@nBo0tyscratcher”

Carr

• Killer Mike

• Benjamin “Mumble Mouth” Crump

• Chris Rock

• Spike Lee

• The Wades

• Barbara Lee

• Raphael “Potato head” Warnock

• DL Hughley

• MC Lyte

• Whoopi Goldberg

• Okrah Winfrey

• Agent DuVernay

• Tyler Perry

• The Obamas

[isefyres-archive]

𝖓𝖊𝖜 𝖒𝖚𝖘𝖊𝖘 𝖆𝖉𝖉𝖊𝖉:

Lady Elinda Massey. as a noblewoman of House Massey and a lady-in-waiting to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons. The youngest and gentlest of the Queen's attendants, Elinda's loyalty to her queen was noteworthy by her dedication and her death. Supposedly she gouged out her own eyes at the sight of her queen being devoured by the dragon Sunfyre. Dance Era.

Ser Garlan Tyrell. known as Garlan the Gallant, is a knight of House Tyrell and the second son of Lord Mace Tyrell and Lady Alerie Hightower. His personal coat of arms is two golden roses on green, to denote his status as second son. He is known as one of the better swordsman on the realm. He takes charge of the guards in Highgarden and plans to bring his sister back home.

Lady Wynafryd "Wyna" Manderly. the eldest daughter of Ser Wylis Manderly and Leona Woolfield and heir to White Harbor. As part of the terms of White Harbor being pardoned and returning to the king's peace of Tommen I Baratheon, Wynafryd is betrothed to the widowed Rhaegar Frey. Wynafryd's betrothal ends with the suspected death of Rhaegar on his way to Winterfell. Like her sister, Wyna is a Stark loyalist and pledges the independence of the North.

Joy Hill, the bastard daughter of Gerion Lannister, according to her cousin Jaime, she is a sweet but lonely child since her father was lost at sea. After the siege of Riverrun, Lady Sybell Spicer mentions to Ser Jaime Lannister that his late father, Tywin, had promised a bride from Casterly Rock for her eldest son, Ser Raynald Westerling. Joy was send to her cousin Princess Myrcella to avoid the girl being wed to a Frey or Westerling.

Lady Sylva Santagar, known as Spotted Sylva, is a member of House Santagar. She is the heir of Ser Symon Santagar, the Knight of Spottswood. A childhood friend of Princess Arianne Martell. Though Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne, deigns not to punish Sylva for her role in the conspiracy, she is sent home to her father. Her father quickly betroths Sylva to the aged Lord Eldon Estermont. Sylva is sent to Greenstone, and married soon after. Her role as heir is now disputed by her youngest sister.

Emperor Bu Gai. seventeenth of the azure emperors, is the current God-Emperor of the Golden Empire of Yi Ti. His seat is located at the city of Yin, in a palace said to be larger than all of King's Landing. His rule is challenged by imperial general Pol Qo in Trader Town, who claims to be the first of the orange emperors. Bu Gai pledges to help Daenerys Targaryen if she helps him regain control of his city.

Lady Myla Toyne. The last known member of the family was Ser Myles Toyne, a captain-general of the exiled Golden Company in Essos. Myla was born in exile and got her father's trading business, due to her connections with the Golden Company, Myla is a supporter of Young Griff/Aegon and set sale back to Westeros.

Lady Alys Karstark is a noblewoman of House Karstark and is the only daughter of Rickard Karstark, Lord of Karhold. When she was six, Alys and her father, Lord Rickard, visited Winterfell. Despite Alys's young age, Rickard wanted her to charm Robb Stark in hopes of arranging a betrothal. Alyn has converted to a mixture of the Old Gods and the Red God of R'hllor.

Marei Hill is a pleasure worker at Chataya's brothel in King's Landing. Marei has green eyes and porcelain skin. Tyrion Lannister describes her long straight hair as being silvery on one occasion and pale white-gold on another. She is one of the few literate women in the brothel. Merei is based on teh theory of her being a bastard daughter of Tywin Lannister, fathered during his tenure as Hand of the King after the death of his wife. Her mother is said to resemble the late Joanna.

Alyn Velaryon born Alyn of Hull and later called Alyn Oakenfist, was Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and head of House Velaryon. Alyn was a legitimised bastard of dragonseed descent, coming from Hull on the island of Driftmark. His brother was Ser Addam Velaryon, a dragonrider. Alyn would later marry Baela Targaryen and rumored to have Princess Aliandra as a lover during his stay in Dorne. Dance Era.

[the-cursed-recruit-story]

The cursed recruit (AO3)

By Symon Pude

Chapter 5 - The young priestess

I awoke in the room I was in before the ceremony. When I took a deep breath, it felt like someone pinched me where my wound had been, but it was just an annoyance. I put my right hand on the bruise and massaged it. The memory of the tingly feeling was still there. It had felt divine, like being granted from a higher power as they claimed.

But with my mind clearer now, I looked at it from a more logical perspective. The priestess, who didn’t seem to have much physical power, healed me and then she collapsed. A good explanation was that she had overexerted herself to heal me. That sounded way more plausible than a god showing mercy on me that they never did before.

But it felt so real.

My stomach grumbled, so I stood up and fetched myself some of my provisions from my rucksack and returned to the comfortable bed.

A knock on the door broke my peace. The monk that carried me off the carriage entered. 

“Your general has requested you to be released early. So, pack your belongings.” A tiny pitch in his voice told me he was happy to get rid of me. “Would you like to see Lady Hezkova, the priestess who healed you before you leave?”

I took a bite from my bread. “Why?”

“It is common for healed patients to say their thanks to their healer. It puts a great strain on them to channel the Maker’s power.”

I scoffed as I stood up from the bed. 

"Trying to drain me for money I don't have, huh?" I said so silent that he didn't hear.

I dressed again and turned to the monk.

“Alright then. Where is she?”

“I’ll lead you to her.”

I pushed the last remains of my provisions back into the rucksack and put it on my back. I followed him through a labyrinth of hallways, until finally we came to a door. He knocked.

“Who’s there?” Her voice was sweet and innocent. 

“Brother Benjamin with the patient you healed today.”

“Come in.”

Brother Benjamin opened the door. A room not unlike the one I stayed in laid on the other side. A bed stood in the corner between a wardrobe and a table with parchment on it. Sunlight fell in through a small window. The young priestess sat in the middle of the room, still wearing the same pure white robe with the red finish. The monk bowed to her, then gestured me to sit on the chair opposite of her, which I did.

“I will take my leave now,” the monk said.

The zivot girl took a moment to answer. “Yes.”

The door closed behind me and the priestess turned to me with tired eyes. “How do you feel?”

“It’s ok.”

She suppressed a yawn. “Great.”

“Thank you for healing me."

She didn’t seem to hear me as she placed her red gloved hands on her chest. “Let’s thank the Maker for the blessing you received today. Lord in Heavens. Thy name is praised above all others…”

I rolled my eyes. “Stop.”

The zivot girl stopped for a second, then continued, “...You lead us to the promised…”

“Really, stop,” I said. “You’re obviously still weak from healing me, so rest.”

“But I need to…”

“Did they say you need to get the pious patients to give even more to your monastery? I don’t believe in half the shit you preach and I wouldn’t even have money.”

Her hand dropped from her chest back to her lap and she sunk deeper into the chair. With her gaze to the floor, she looked like she could fall asleep any second.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” I said.

She gave a small nod and pushed herself up, before stumbling to the bed and collapsing onto it. I thought she had fallen asleep completely, but her eyes remained open.

Silence settled in the room. I used the time to take a look at the parchment on the table, but I couldn’t make complete sense of them.

“Can I ask you a favour?” Lady Hezkova asked. “Can you describe the scenery outside the monastery?”

I looked through the small window, but it only showed a courtyard. “It’s not very special, there are rolling hills with brownish fields and woods with some leafless trees here and there.”

“What about flowers? Are there flowers?”

I scoffed. “Not now, it’s still soon after the winter. Only a few snowdrops and wood anemones.”

“Can you describe them?”

My brows furrowed. How could she not know about this? “Both white, one looks a little bit like a bell and the other has six pedals.”

“I wish I could see them with my own eyes.”

I turned to her. “Can you not?”

“No.” The zivot girl paused. “I was chosen from a very young age to become a priestess in the service of the Maker. My days were filled with praying and learning all the skills I needed, never leaving the estate of my family. At least there was a garden. Now, all I see from the outside is through this window.”

I turned to her, sympathy welling in my chest. “That’s awful. Why don’t they let you go outside?”

“Priestesses need to stay pure to invite in the Maker’s blessing. For that I have to stay within the holy walls. No contact with the sinful populace.”

“That’s bullshit.”

Lady Hezkova gasped and placed a hand on her chest.

“What? It is.” I said. “Have you ever tried to run away?”

The priestess looked at her bedsheets. “I think about it. Sometimes even breaking my personal prayer to fantasise about getting out. It is easy to get out of the monastery, but there’s nowhere I could go where they won’t find me.” Her eyes widened. “I heard you’re a soldier in the army. Can I come with you? They probably need a healer. You may be able to convince the general to shelter me from the church’s eyes in exchange for my abilities.”

“That is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard."

"Why?"

"You want a few reasons? You barely can heal one person before you collapse, and being alone with a lot of blue-balled men won’t turn out well for you. Even if the general does things that don’t seem to make any sense, he wouldn’t go so blatantly against the church.”

“There must be some way." She almost shouted, still weak. "I saved you, so do something to help me.”

I remained silent.

The young priestess’ lips pursed, and she closed her eyes. Tears fell down on her pillow and got soaked up by the linens. I looked at her for a few seconds; feelings of guilt welled even further up my chest. I couldn’t help her, unless…

I put my palm on my face. “I’m so gonna regret this.”

Stepping to the table, I grabbed an empty piece of yellowish parchment. I dipped the quill into the inkwell. The lines of the drawn roads were squiggly as I struggled to draw a map of Hazelbrooks without my fingers smearing my work.

Lady Hezkova pushed herself up a little, wiping the tears from her eyes. “What are you doing?”

I finished the crude map and blew on it to dry. “There is somewhere where you can go. If you go east, you’ll come to a small village with a chapel in about a day. North of it there is a small farm, where my parents live. If you tell them that I sent you and you need a place to hide from the church, they’ll take you in.” 

I held the map out to her. 

She shook her head. “I can’t accept this. I want to leave, yes, but if they catch me there, your family and you will be hanged. I couldn’t live with that.”

“So you just have to hide very well. With a lot of grime on your face to hide the translucency, and your hair shaved off and replaced with some plastered-on brown one, you might even pass as a young lad that got sent away to become a farmhand.”

She reached up to her curls. “I need to shave … my hair?”

“Well, yes. This dark red colour is a dead giveaway. Any problem with that?”

“It shows how long it has been since my first healing. It would be disrespectful for a priestess to get rid of it after receiving this power from the Maker.”

“If you take that map, you won’t be a priestess anymore.”

She looked at the piece of parchment. “Are you sure you want to endanger your family just to help a complete stranger like me?”

I made a dismissive hand gesture with my free hand. “They need someone to help them on the fields anyway.”

The young priestess pursed her lips again. Then she slowly reached out and took the map with her hand. “Thank you.”

I followed her thin, red cotton gloves as she put the map under her pillow, when an idea came to mind. “Give me your gloves.”

“Huh?”

“Your gloves. If you manage to escape, they will look everywhere for you. And when they find those west from here, who would think to look where you actually went?”

After a short pause, she nodded and removed the clothings. Her rosy-translucent skin on the back of her hand reminded me of that godly feeling they had roused the last time. I felt a twinge and I looked away, only glancing back shortly to take the gloves. They were soft to the touch, the seams not even noticeable. 

I put them in my trouser pocket when a knock on the door made me jump.

“One other thing,” I said, “Can you also take away the health of people?”

She leaned back, bringing distance between us. “Why?”

“Yes or no?”

She retreated even further “I don't know. Never tried it. But why?”

“If my father starts drinking again, you could at least try to do that. Mess him up real good.”

Another knock at the door. The voice of Brother Benjamin came from outside. “Is everything okay, Lady Hezkova? You’ve been speaking with your patient for quite some time now.”

“Yes, everything is okay. We just finished. You can come in,”  Lady Hezkova said.

The door opened and the monk appeared in the frame.

“Again, I thank the Maker for his blessing. And I hope you get better soon,” I faked.

“It is okay that you were not able to show your gratitude in a material way. Your thanks are highly enough.”

I took my rucksack and went to the door. The monk bowed. I turned around and did the same. When I straightened again, she smiled at me, with real joy in her eyes. 

She mouthed a “Thank you.” Her pointy canines were easy to see.  Even my lips twitched upwards a little. 

I hope she succeeds.

[wankerwatch]

Lords Vote

On: Water (Special Measures) Bill [HL]

Lord Roborough moved amendment 51, to leave out clause 10. The House divided:

Ayes: 36 (94.4% Con, 2.8% , 2.8% XB) Noes: 89 (94.4% Lab, 3.4% , 1.1% XB, 1.1% PC) Absent: ~705

Likely Referenced Bill: Water (Special Measures) Bill [HL]

Description: A Bill to make provision about the regulation, governance and special administration of water companies.

Originating house: Lords Current house: Lords Bill Stage: Report stage

Individual Votes:

Ayes

Conservative (34 votes)

Ashcombe, L. Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist, B. Booth, L. Brownlow of Shurlock Row, L. Courtown, E. Davies of Gower, L. Dundee, E. Effingham, E. Evans of Rainow, L. Forsyth of Drumlean, L. Gascoigne, L. Hunt of Wirral, L. Jackson of Peterborough, L. James of Blackheath, L. Jopling, L. Laing of Elderslie, B. Leicester, E. Mancroft, L. Manzoor, B. Meyer, B. Minto, E. Morris of Bolton, B. Parkinson of Whitley Bay, L. Ranger of Northwood, L. Remnant, L. Roborough, L. Sandhurst, L. Scott of Bybrook, B. Sharpe of Epsom, L. Shinkwin, L. Stedman-Scott, B. True, L. Williams of Trafford, B. Young of Cookham, L.

Non-affiliated (1 vote)

Foster of Aghadrumsee, B.

Crossbench (1 vote)

Craigavon, V.

Noes

Labour (84 votes)

Adams of Craigielea, B. Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, B. Anderson of Swansea, L. Bassam of Brighton, L. Beamish, L. Beckett, B. Blake of Leeds, B. Blower, B. Browne of Ladyton, L. Bryan of Partick, B. Campbell-Savours, L. Chapman of Darlington, B. Clark of Windermere, L. Cryer, L. Donaghy, B. Falconer of Thoroton, L. Foulkes of Cumnock, L. Gale, B. Goldsmith, L. Grocott, L. Gustafsson, B. Hain, L. Hannett of Everton, L. Hanson of Flint, L. Hanworth, V. Harris of Haringey, L. Hayman of Ullock, B. Healy of Primrose Hill, B. Hendy of Richmond Hill, L. Hendy, L. Hermer, L. Howarth of Newport, L. Hunt of Kings Heath, L. Jones, L. Kennedy of Cradley, B. Kennedy of Southwark, L. Kinnock, L. Knight of Weymouth, L. Lawrence of Clarendon, B. Leong, L. Lister of Burtersett, B. Livermore, L. Mann, L. McIntosh of Hudnall, B. McNicol of West Kilbride, L. Merron, B. Murphy of Torfaen, L. O'Grady of Upper Holloway, B. Osamor, B. Pitkeathley, B. Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L. Prentis of Leeds, L. Prosser, B. Quin, B. Ramsey of Wall Heath, B. Rebuck, B. Ritchie of Downpatrick, B. Sahota, L. Shamash, L. Sherlock, B. Sikka, L. Smith of Basildon, B. Smith of Cluny, B. Smith of Malvern, B. Spellar, L. Stansgate, V. Symons of Vernham Dean, B. Taylor of Bolton, B. Taylor of Stevenage, B. Thornton, B. Timpson, L. Touhig, L. Tunnicliffe, L. Twycross, B. Vallance of Balham, L. Watson of Invergowrie, L. Watson of Wyre Forest, L. Watts, L. Wheeler, B. Whitaker, B. Whitty, L. Wilcox of Newport, B. Winston, L. Young of Old Scone, B.

Non-affiliated (3 votes)

Austin of Dudley, L. Patel of Bradford, L. Uddin, B.

Crossbench (1 vote)

Finlay of Llandaff, B.

Plaid Cymru (1 vote)

Smith of Llanfaes, B.

[readingbibooks]

“How does our faith affect our sex life? How does our sexuality inform our image of the divine? Is our relationship with God anything like our sexual relationships? How does our experience of bisexuality affect our religion's teaching on gender? Are our sexual ethics rooted in our faith, and do we manage to stick to them?”

- Symon Hill, Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain

[scottiestoybox]

THE HILL: Former Harris aide says Baier pulled interview questions from 'Trump/Vance press release'

Former Harris aide says Baier pulled interview questions from ‘Trump/Vance press release’ Former top aide to Vice President Harris turned MSNBC host Symone Sanders knocked Fox News anchor Bret Baier over how the journalist handled a high-stakes interview on “Special Report” with the Democratic nominee that aired on the network Wednesday evening. Read in The Hill:…

[bioonecharlotte]

About Us

Bio-One of Charlotte is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Charlotte for a reason. The scenes we remediate can be overwhelming and dangerous. We are trained, experienced, and here for you. Contact us anytime, day or night. We answer the call 24/7.

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The right people,  here for you

At Bio-One of Charlotte, we are a close-knit team devoted to helping our community.

Our mission is simple: help first, business second. 

We value: professionalism, discretion, expertise, and care and compassion for everyone involved.

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Compassion & Understanding

Our priority is you. Bio-One of Charlotte, to this day, continues to be the most passionate and caring crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination company in the cleaning services industry. We have built our company on the foundation of discretion and confidentiality. We treat each situation with care and compassion, and take time to learn your individual needs and goals. We can open your insurance claim and work with adjusters so you can focus on other urgent matters. We strive to make a difference in our community and thrive by going above and beyond for our clients at Bio-One of Charlotte.

About Your Local Owner

We are a help first business, and we do it because we care.

John and Jen Symons

Owner

John and Jen Symons are the owners of Bio-One of Charlotte. Both John and Jen grew up in Michigan and moved to Charlotte, NC in 2007. John has worked in the restoration field for over ten years, and loves helping his customers. He uses his experience and expertise to help restore their client's homes to a safe and clean condition. Jen graduated from Central Michigan University and is passionate about helping those in need. John and Jen have two daughters and are very active in their community of Rock Hill, SC.

[ulkaralakbarova]

All Eyez on Me chronicles the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records. Against insurmountable odds, Tupac rose to become a cultural icon whose career and persona both continue to grow long after his passing. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Tupac Shakur: Demetrius Shipp Jr. Afeni Shakur: Danai Gurira Jada Pinkett: Kat Graham Biggie Smalls: Jamal Woolard Suge Knight: Dominic L. Santana Kidada Jones: Annie Ilonzeh Leila Steinberg: Lauren Cohan Hatian Jack: Cory Hardrict Faith Evans: Grace Gibson Street Entrepreneur: DeSean Jackson Ted Field: Brandon Sauve Tom Whalley: Josh Ventura Daz: Azad Arnaud Big B: Sean Baker Dr. Dre: Harold “House” Moore Queen Latifah: Khadija Copeland Aunt Linda: Chanel Young Shock G.: Chris Clarke Money B.: Money-B Ronnie: Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson Legs: DeRay Davis Black C.O.: Bruce Davis Atron: Keith D. Robinson Attorney: Gary Weeks Snoop Dogg: Jarrett Ellis Floyd: Clifton Powell Set: Rayven Symone Ferrell Scott Whitwell: Scott Hunter Ray Luv (uncredited): Johnell Young Treach (uncredited): Rayan Lawrence Mall Patron (uncredited): Sheril Rodgers Film Crew: Costume Design: Francine Jamison-Tanchuck Director: Benny Boom Screenplay: Jeremy Haft Screenplay: Eddie Gonzalez Producer: L.T. Hutton Producer: David Robinson Producer: James G. Robinson Screenplay: Steven Bagatourian Art Department Coordinator: Shauna Williams Assistant Art Director: Shawn D. Bronson Key Makeup Artist: Patrice Coleman Music: John Paesano Tattooist: Dennis Dago Ceelo Key Makeup Artist: Mi Young Casting: Michelle Wade Byrd Hair Department Head: Taylor Knight Art Direction: John Richardson Construction Coordinator: Wally Mikowlski Casting Associate: Lavonna Cupid Tailor: Carl Ulysses Bowen Production Design: Derek R. Hill Editor: Joel Cox Key Hair Stylist: Charles Gregory Ross Casting: Winsome Sinclair Key Hair Stylist: Vincent Gideon Property Master: Ian Roylance Researcher: Deborah Ricketts Director of Photography: Peter Menzies Jr. Casting: Andrea Craven Set Decoration: Merissa Lombardo Costume Supervisor: Tom Bronson Set Costumer: Korii Young Assistant Costume Designer: Jennifer Leigh-Scott Costume Supervisor: K. Drew Fuller Casting: Mary Vernieu Key Costumer: Heather Sease Key Costumer: Earl Tanchuck Makeup Department Head: Carol Rasheed Movie Reviews: Gimly: In terms of perspective, it’s pretty much exactly what I was afraid _Straight Outta Compton_ would be. As a movie itself though, it’s a disjointed, cheap-looking, paint by numbers biopic that did not manage overcome its niche at all… Fuck that kid looks the part though. _Final rating:★½: – Boring/disappointing. Avoid where possible._

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Adulterer, Boak Bollocks, Killer of Diana, Filthy Clown King: Illustration By Justin Metz/The Guardian

‘The Crowd Were Saying, “Kill Him, Kick Him To Death”’: What Happened To The People Who Protested Against Clown King Charles?

When the queen died last year, republicans balked at the fawning response to the succession. Some even found themselves under arrest for minor acts of protest, such as heckling. Ahead of next week’s coronation, three tell their tales

— By Simon Hattenstone | Saturday April 29th, 2023

Symon Hill was walking back from church on a sunny autumn Sunday when he realised his route was blocked; the roads around Carfax Tower in Oxford were closed off. It was 11 September, the day after Charles Windsor had been officially proclaimed King Charles III in London, and local events were being held nationwide. This ceremony, organised by the council, typified the pomp and pageantry. Hill is a quiet, thoughtful man of 46, but it doesn’t take much to rile him when it comes to the monarchy. He was looking forward to spending the afternoon relaxing with his housemates in their garden, and now he was stuck in a celebration he regarded as archaic and irrelevant.

Hill is a Christian, historian, pacifist, teacher, writer, activist and republican. At the start of the ceremony, which focused on the queen’s death, he was silent: “I wouldn’t interrupt somebody’s grief.” But when “they declared Charles rightful liege lord, and acknowledged our obedience to him as our only king”, Hill had heard enough. “I find this language very demeaning, and I called out ‘Who elected him?’” To his astonishment, he found himself surrounded by security, arrested and eventually charged under the Public Order Act 1986.

Hill’s arrest made the newspapers. Not because his had been an extreme or dramatic protest, but because it had been so mild. How could it have resulted in a criminal charge? On the same day, a 22-year-old woman who allegedly held a placard reading “Fuck imperialism, abolish monarchy” was arrested in Edinburgh for breach of the peace. More overt forms of protest also made headlines. One young man chucked five eggs at the new king and, despite his failure to hit his target, he was also charged with a public order offence.

Perhaps the most alarming story to emerge was that of a barrister threatened with arrest after holding up a blank piece of paper outside parliament. It felt like something we might read about in China or Russia. (Indeed, a couple of months later Chinese protesters used blank pieces of paper to protest against the country’s zero-tolerance Covid policy in what people referred to as the A4 revolution.) What was happening to Britain and its much vaunted democracy? In the days after the queen’s death, as TV stations cancelled regular programming and sombre music was played on the radio, only supine monarchism seemed acceptable.

Hill and I meet in a Wetherspoon pub in Oxford where he orders a non-alcoholic beer. He bears a resemblance to Mole in The Wind in the Willows – small, bespectacled, flat-capped, scrupulously polite and kind. Hill tells me it was his childhood that radicalised him. He was born into a working-class family in the Midlands. When he was six, his mother became housekeeper to a wealthy, aristocratic couple: “We lived in what would have been called a servants’ cottage back in the day.” He admits his memories are partial, but some are still so clear – being allowed to play with the employer’s dog as if it were a treat; the benign patrician taking down a glass of wine to his mother in the kitchen and telling her not to mention it to his wife, who would disapprove. “It made me aware of inequality. As a child, you don’t understand why one woman should be a housekeeper and another should have a housekeeper. I still don’t.”

Hill’s activism has always been bound up with his Christianity, much of his objection to monarchy derived from his faith: “I don’t understand how a Christian can agree to a proclamation declaring somebody other than Jesus to be our only king. I try to live by my faith all the time,” he adds, and reddens slightly. “Obviously I often don’t manage that. But things like trying to love your neighbour is a form of activism for me.” He is the author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Religion and The Upside-Down Bible.

“I called out, ‘Let’s not bow down to our equals.’ Then the security guards pushed me backwards and the police rushed in”

Hill had not planned to protest at the proclamation but stumbled into it. How loud was his heckle? “Loud enough for the people near me to hear. But I know they couldn’t hear it at the front because the Oxford Mail reported an indistinct heckle.” Did he say anything rude? Hill looks appalled. “A couple of people told me to shut up,” he says. He would probably have walked away and found an alternative route home if he hadn’t been stopped by security guards – or crowd management services, as the police later called them. “One told me to be quiet. I asked what authority he had to do that and he said, ‘You could be arrested for breach of the peace.’ I said, ‘I’m not doing anything illegal, I’m just expressing an opinion. If you can have somebody proclaim in favour of monarchy, I’m speaking against it.’”

Hill called out something else to make his point: “Something like, ‘Let’s not bow down to our equals.’ Then the security guards pushed me backwards. I thought they were going to knock me over. As the band started playing God Save the King, the police rushed in and said to the security guards, ‘We’ve got this’ or, ‘We’ve got him’, something like that.” Hill is fastidious about the facts to the point of pedantry. “Then the police grabbed me, twisted my arms back and handcuffed me.”

As he was led to the van, two people challenged the police. “They were both pro-monarchy, middle-class. They said, ‘Well, I don’t agree with him but surely he’s got a right to freedom of speech?’ They walked behind the police challenging them, which I really appreciated.”

‘I’d literally said a couple of sentences in the street’: historian Symon Hill, arrested for asking who elected King Charles. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

When Hill was put in the back of the van, he asked on what grounds he had been arrested. An officer admitted he didn’t know. The whole thing was a farce, Hill says. “They didn’t have a clue. It’s an important principle that if you’re going to have rule of law and democracy and human rights, you have freedom from arbitrary arrest.”

He says it was more alarming than the three previous occasions he had been arrested for protesting. In 2013, he was among a group of Christian activists charged with aggravated trespass after blocking an entrance to a London arms fair by kneeling in prayer. “We were found not guilty on a technicality because the police hadn’t read the warning in the proper way before arresting us. The second time I was not charged; the third time the charges were dropped. On all those occasions I wasn’t surprised to be arrested. This time I was gobsmacked. I don’t think I’m naive about police behaviour, but I’d literally said a couple of sentences in the street.”

Hill was then de-arrested without explanation and driven home by the police. He was later invited to a voluntary interview. He declined, but when it became apparent it wasn’t quite so voluntary, he went to the police station with his solicitor. He was told one of the security guards had alleged assault. “I was worried because assault is an imprisonable offence.” On 22 December, he was charged with breach of the Public Order Act – a charge that was dropped two weeks later, again with no explanation.

How did he feel? “A part of me was slightly disappointed I wouldn’t get the chance to make the case in court, but a much bigger part was relieved.” He smiles. “There’s a stereotype of activists that we want as much confrontation and publicity as possible. And, yes, I’m willing to make an argument in court, but I’d rather be at home with a cup of tea.”

Hill – who is considering bringing a case of unlawful arrest against Thames Valley police, with the support of human rights group Liberty – has been surprised by how much attention the incident received. “There are things I’ve done that have required far more effort and courage that have got a lot less interest.” On social media, there were thousands of incendiary comments. Conservative councillor Andrew Schrader tweeted: “To the tower with you, you dour grump.” But there has also been support, and Hill is aware that for some he represents the acceptable face of protest. “What’s been interesting is how much my Christian faith has been mentioned. They’re keen to emphasise what a normal, respectable person I am – a history lecturer in his 40s, walking home from church. But it wouldn’t have been any more acceptable to arrest anybody else.”

Patrick Thelwell is arrested after throwing eggs at King Charles. Photograph: Jacob King/PA. File photo dated 09/11/22 of police detaining protester Patrick Thelwell after he appeared to throw eggs at King Charles III and the Queen Consort as they arrived for a ceremony at Micklegate Bar in York

Hill has kept tabs on other people who were arrested after protesting against the monarchy. He tells me about a 16-year-old given a dispersal notice for holding a sign saying “Abolish the monarchy” in Bolton an hour before the king visited. The boy and his friends were threatened with arrest if they returned within three hours. Hill also mentions Mariángela, the Mexican woman arrested in Edinburgh. “I’ve been in touch with her. She got quite a bit of racist abuse about it.” And then there’s Patrick Thelwell in York, who threw the eggs at Charles. “I don’t have a big problem with that, but I wouldn’t do it. I don’t think it’s entirely non-violent. I also think it’s a waste of food.” But they have been in touch and Hill hopes to attend Thelwell’s court case in a show of solidarity.

The protesters seem to have become a close-knit family. Hill tells me he’ll go to London for the coronation, alongside the pressure group Republic, and will hopefully meet up with a few fellow protesters.

Perhaps the solemn reverence after the death of Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t surprising. She had served for a record-breaking 70 years and was globally admired, even by many republicans. The new king is a different character. Whereas she was famous for her discretion, he is regarded by many as a meddler. While her poker face remained intact throughout her reign, it took him only days to show his petulance in public, throwing two strops over pen-related incidents. There have also been questions about his judgment and integrity. Four days after the queen’s death, up to 100 Palace staff were given notice of redundancy during a thanksgiving service for her, and last November evidence about cash-for-honours allegations involving one of the king’s charities was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service.

In an Ipsos poll in 2016, just before the Queen’s 90th birthday, 76% of those surveyed favoured a monarchy, with only 17% preferring a republic. Now, 58% want a monarchy, while 26% prefer an elected head of state, according to a YouGov poll for Panorama of nearly 4,600 adults, published earlier this week. Most revealingly, only 32% of 18-24-year-olds polled want the monarchy to continue.

Graham Smith, CEO of Republic, believes this is significant. “The Queen is the monarchy for most people,” he said before her death last year. And now? “The institution is in serious jeopardy. It’s been reduced to two couples – Charles and Camilla, and William and Kate – and they’re not particularly inspirational figures. As we see indifference to the monarchy grow, they won’t be in a position to turn that around.” Smith thinks the generational gap can be explained by shifting cultural forces: “Identity politics, #MeToo, growing awareness of empire and slavery – all this is pushing people away.”

Patrick Thelwell and Symon Hill have a good deal in common. Both are academic, passionate about queer politics and were arrested for protesting against Charles. But while Hill is an understated pacifist, Thelwell believes in cracking a few eggs to make a republican omelette. On 9 November, he threw at least five at the king. One whistled past his arm, but that was the closest they got. His heckles, including “The king is a paedophile” (he says now he was thinking of his friendship with Jimmy Savile) were as outlandish as Hill’s had been sober.

Thelwell was arrested, pulled to the floor and taken to the police station where he signed his custody record “Fuck the king”. When we speak soon after, Thelwell, who is studying for a master’s in international relations, thinks he may be charged with treason and jailed. Does he want to be charged? “Aha! That’s a good question. Kind of. Well, I’ve got some choice words for my court appearance, that’s for sure.” Such as? “I won’t be apologising, especially if I get found guilty. I’ll be saying I don’t recognise the legitimacy of this court or this country, and I’ll probably call for a revolution, just to spice things up a bit, because that’s what we need.”

“With the problems we’re facing, thinking, ‘Ooh, if we could just get Labour into power, everything would be fine’, like, no!”

What form of revolution? “I’d like people to withdraw their consent to be governed by the British nation state because it’s complicit in war crimes and crimes against humanity. It needs to be dissolved and its assets redistributed as reparations for climate change to the global south. In its place we’d create a federated direct democracy of local people’s assemblies and ultimately a global democracy where we’re citizens of Earth.” Blimey, I say, that’s ambitious. He giggles. “Well, yeah! Have you seen the problems we’re facing? Thinking, ‘Ooh, if we could just get Labour into power, everything would be fine.’ Like, no! Keir Starmer’s planning on keeping all the protest laws that have come into place.”

Cross Boy George with Rick from The Young Ones and you may get something approaching Thelwell. He sees himself as “a cosmocrat, a democratic federalist. The politicial philosopher I most draw on is Murray Bookchin. He was a Marxist, then an anarchist, then he thought, ‘Neither of these are enough, we need to create a different state, based on local self-governance.’” Has anywhere in the world achieved this? “Yes, Rojava in northern Syria. Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish resistance leader, built on Bookchin’s work and moved towards creating a stateless direct democracy. About three million people live under it and you’ve got a huge network of different tribes and towns and villages.” In the Observer, Kenan Malik praised Rojava as a brave experiment in democracy and equality, saying it would be a “tragedy” if it were crushed by President Assad.

When Thelwell, 23, is not studying or plotting the revolution, he works as an ecological gardener. He makes it clear he is no protest virgin. “It wasn’t my first rodeo,” he says of the egg-throwing incident. In 2020, he was one of 26 Extinction Rebellion activists who blockaded two British printing plants, disrupting the distribution of newspapers including the Murdoch-owned Sun and Times. Thelwell glued himself to the roof of a van and was convicted of obstructing the highway and aggravated trespass. He was also, like Hill, arrested at the arms fair in London, though his protest was more physical. “I jumped a fence and climbed on an Apache helicopter. I sat on the rotors and drummed on it for two hours.” He pauses, then adds proudly: “I’ve no sense of rhythm.” He wasn’t charged on that occasion.

‘We need a revolution’: student Patrick Thelwell, whose egg-throwing resulted in a charge of threatening behaviour. Photograph: Richard Saker/The Guardian. Patrick Thelwell, a student at York University who in November 2022 threw eggs at King Charles and the Queen Consort whilst they were visiting York in North Yorkshire.

“There’s nothing that compares to taking an action,” he says. It gives him a buzz? “It’s not a buzz, it’s being aligned with the kind of world we want to create. You feel you’re doing something inherently right, that transcends your ego. People say it’s narcissistic, but it’s not about you, it’s about your message.”

None of Thelwell’s direct actions met with the vitriol that egging the king did. He thought he was going to be lynched by the crowd: “They lost their minds. They were saying things like, ‘Kill him, kick him to death.’” Since then, he says, he’s received death threats. “People have tried to get into my accommodation block. I’ve had emails saying, ‘We’re outside, we’re going to put your head on a spike.’ It’s not safe for me to walk around York by myself.” He reads out an Instagram post: “What a prick you are. Embarrassing. If you’re not careful you’ll get your head taken off, you little muppet.” Beheading is a common theme in the trolling and though others have treated him as a hero, it’s been a challenging time for Thelwell, who has ADHD and suffers with anxiety. “I feel quite ungrounded. There was my life pre-egg and now it’s post-egg. I need to focus on a bit of self-care.”

In early December, Thelwell was charged with threatening behaviour. As part of his bail conditions, he was banned from carrying eggs. What does he think will happen in court? “I think I’m going to prison, partly because of what I will say in court. I’m going to say, ‘Fuck the king, this court is an illegitimate authority.’”

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The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 will make the arrest of protesters at next week’s coronation easier and more likely. The stop and search powers of police have been extended to allow officers to target people and vehicles if they suspect they might be carrying anything that could be used in protests. The home secretary now has the power to ban marches and demonstrations they believe might be “seriously disruptive”, including being too noisy. But the controversial policing of monarchy-related protests is nothing new.

In 1952, 26-year-old Anthony George was fined 20 shillings for insulting behaviour after failing to observe the two minutes’ silence at King George VI’s funeral because he objected to its commercialism. PC Eric Rolfe told Guildhall magistrates court that George had made “unnecessary noise with his feet”. Half a century later, during the Golden Jubilee, 23 activists staging a protest in Tower Hill with the banner “Execute the Queen” were arrested. They later received £80,000 in damages from police in an out-of-court settlement. In 2011, protesters dressed as zombies were arrested during the wedding of Prince William and Kate. Police justified the arrest as pre-emptive, with the European court of human rights ruling eight years later that there had been no breach of the protesters’ right to liberty.

I meet barrister Paul Powlesland at Garden Court Chambers in mid-November, a couple of months after he was threatened with arrest for holding up a blank piece of paper in Parliament Square. Powlesland had read about the arrest of protesters exercising their rights to freedom of speech and was dismayed at the one-note coverage of the queen’s death. “It felt over the top and mawkish. I don’t want to say it was akin to North Korea, but it did not feel like a free, vibrant democracy in terms of different opinions being expressed. When I heard about the arrests, I thought, this is outrageous.”

Powlesland had never given the royals much thought, but he’d given plenty to freedom of speech: “The protest was initially more about that.” Protesting with a blank piece of paper was purely practical. “I couldn’t get arrested because I had a case next day. Holding up a ‘Not my king’ sign is not unlawful, but they can still arrest you and I didn’t want to let my client down.”

Powlesland, 36, wears a brightly coloured jacket over his smart suit, has a ponytail and speaks with a plummy accent he says is misleading. He grew up in Addlestone, Surrey, to working-class parents (his father worked as a window fitter for 45 years) but “Addlestone gave me an accent that makes everyone assume I’m a public schoolboy.” Only two people in his school year went to university, and he got into Cambridge.

What politicised him? He looks embarrassed. “I don’t know if I want this confession in the Guardian. I started out as Tory.” There’s more. “I voted Ukip in 2004 because I was a massive Eurosceptic.” Is he still? “No. I try not to think about Brexit. I voted remain in the end.”

“Just having something someone else finds offensive is not a criminal offence because then pretty much anything could be”

Powlesland lives on a boat in east London and is an activist around protecting rivers. He has six children through sperm donation, none of whom he has met. Like Hill and Thelwell, he is not a stranger to direct action. During the 2012 Olympics, he was involved in a bike ride protest. The police ruled the cyclists couldn’t ride north of the Thames; Powlesland did, was charged and convicted, and then given a conditional discharge.

The other incident involving police was terrifying, he says. “I got arrested three years ago in a dawn raid involving 10 officers smashing my door down. I was asleep, they handcuffed me, searched my entire boat and took me to the police station. It was like being kidnapped by a criminal gang.” Powlesland was accused of rioting at the London Stock Exchange. The only evidence was footage of a masked, hooded rioter wearing leggings, which Powlesland was known to wear at demonstrations. He soon proved he was in chambers at the time: “I gave them a dossier of evidence, but they still couldn’t say, ‘We’re sorry, we got it wrong.’”

‘Even monarchists were outraged’: barrister Paul Powlesland, threatened with arrest for holding up a blank piece of paper. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

On 12 September, Charles addressed parliament as king for the first time. The Metropolitan police called in reinforcements in case of protests. Powlesland, who works nearby, walked from Parliament Square to Downing Street and back with his blank piece of paper. “Then a guy from Norfolk police came up and spoke to me, and that was the video that went viral.” Powlesland recorded the encounter on his phone. “He asked for my details, I asked why and he said, ‘I want to check you’re OK on the Police National Computer.’ I said, ‘I’ve not done anything wrong, so I’m not giving you them.’ I wanted to test it without getting arrested. So I asked, ‘If I wrote “Not my king” on the paper, would I get arrested?’ and he said, ‘Probably, because it would be a breach of the Public Order Act; it would be offensive.’” Was he right? Powlesland laughs. “No! Just having something someone else finds offensive is not a criminal offence because then pretty much anything could be.”

The video has been watched by more than 1.5 million people and the protest was widely reported. That night the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, Stuart Cundy, issued a statement verging on the apologetic: “We’re aware of a video online showing an officer speaking with a member of the public outside the Palace of Westminster earlier today. The public absolutely have a right to protest and we have been making this clear to all officers.”

Was Powlesland surprised his protest received so much publicity?“Yes, and that even monarchists were outraged. There was definitely a sense of the police pushing back on alternative forms of expression and by doing something so ridiculous, it forced them to admit they were wrong and freedom of speech is allowed.”

The next day Powlesland returned to Parliament Square with friends. “We had different things written on pieces of A3: ‘Not my king’, ‘Down with the monarchy’.” The police walked past. No arrests were made.

Friday 14 April. It’s early morning and a queue has formed outside York magistrates court – a mix of journalists and Thelwell’s supporters carrying placards featuring eggs and saying “Did you vote for him?” and “Justice for Patrick, justice for all”. Thelwell wears a large hooped earring containing an image of the Earth; an Earth symbol is tattooed on his right hand and “Love” on his left. He is skinny and tiny, even in the platform heels he says he wore on the day to see Charles through the crowd. He is cheeky, likable and nervous.

Thelwell, who has chosen to defend himself, admits to low-level violence in throwing the eggs. He tells senior district judge Paul Goldspring: “If that amounts to unlawful violence, then the violence carried out by the British state is at such a severe level, I can’t be held accountable for my crime while the crimes of the state go unpunished.” The violence was lawful, he says, and he acted out of necessity because government policy in relation to the health service, asylum seekers, the arms trade and the climate is killing countless people. As promised, he tells the court he does not recognise its legitimacy because the prosecutors work for the crown. It’s a bravura performance – by turns ingenious, comic, ridiculous and noble. At one point Goldspring tells him: “We don’t need grandstanding. We’re not in a theatre.”

But the judge is kindly and gentle. He acknowledges Thelwell’s ADHD and that he is strapped for cash, and tells him early on he will not go to prison: “Do you want to say anything about that? Or are you are just relieved?”

“Yes,” Thelwell says with a nervous laugh.

The judge asks him why he had stopped his studies. “Because I thought I was going to prison,” he says.

“What is the chance of you finding a job in six weeks?” the judge asks.

“Do you need any gardening doing?” Thelwell says.

“Surprisingly not,” the judge replies.

Thelwell is found guilty of threatening behaviour. The judge says it is an “unprovoked, targeted and pre-planned use of violence against what was, after all, a 74-year-old man”, yet he sounds as if he’d like to give Thelwell a hug and tell him not to throw away his life. He is given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay costs of £600 and a £114 surcharge at a rate of £5 a week.

He doesn’t get to say “Fuck the king” in court, but he does say pretty much everything else he had planned. He remains polite and thanks the judge for his leniency, before emerging from court triumphant but a little chastened.

When we speak a couple of days later, I tell him I left court thinking it was a victory for humanity – everyone came off well. “I thought so, too,” he says. Was he surprised he was allowed to read out his statement in court? “One hundred per cent. I got lucky with the judge.”

With the coronation imminent the Met are preparing for what is expected to be one of the biggest operations in their history. This month, secretary of state for culture, media and sport Lucy Frazer told the Sun it would be “extremely disappointing” if activists targeted the event. Meanwhile, Hill, Powlesland and Thelwell hope to be there, exercising their democratic right to free speech. “I’ll be protesting,” Hill says. “I want to speak out against being told to submit to somebody because of an accident of birth. It is really important we’re not intimidated into not speaking out.”

Republic’s Smith is looking forward to the big day. Will there be much protest? “We’re bringing 1,000-plus people to Trafalgar Square. We’re not planning anything illegal, and it’s only going to be disruptive in terms of noise and a sea of placards. When Charles comes past, we expect chants of ‘Not my king’ and booing. We’re going to make sure we can’t be missed or edited out.”