Protesters turn their backs on Thatcher’s coffin

The Protesters gathered in London to show their anger against Thatcher’s policies, which they believe wrecked working class in the 1980’s and after, and the state-funded ceremonial funeral, which by some estimates cost taxpayers up to £10 million.

Protesters at Ludgate Circus booed, blew whistles and chanted “waste of money” as military marching bands passed along the funeral procession route.

One of the protesters, who have joined the people outside the cathedral, told The Telegraph that she came to protest in memory of those who died in Hillsborough tragedy.

Fighting back tears, she said, “Ninety-six people died going to a football match and she [Thatcher] helped cover it up”.

Another protester, named Dave Winslow, attacked the government’s decision to hold a royal funeral from the public purse and said, “The message is that spending £10 million on such a divisive figure in times of austerity, especially when austerity is being imposed on the poor, is wrong, especially when harm is being caused to the disabled and the NHS”.

According to the reports, hundreds of ex-miners also arrived at a club in Easington Colliery, County Durham, celebrating former Prime Minister’s death.

More people are expected to attend the event as a reminder of Thatcher’s repression of coal miners’ strikes in the 1980’s and devastating of thousands of families by forcing them out of their jobs.

“She wanted to smash the union and sell off whatever was profitable,” said Dave Douglass, who worked at Doncaster coalfield for 35 years.

“I'm here to mourn her birth as she represents the system that we are all still suffering under,” he added.

More than 4,000 police officers were on duty for Thatcher’s funeral to keep the route for the procession safe. Three men were reportedly arrested in London ahead of the funeral on suspicion of spraying offensive graffiti on a wall.

“The men aged 48, 26 and 55 were taken to a central London police station and remain in custody,” Scotland Yard said.

Thatcher’s funeral service began at 11 am at St. Paul's Cathedral, where 2,300 invited guests await. The British Queen and her husband Prince Philip were among the attendees.

Source: Press TV