Protesters in London's Tower of London Resort to Bizarre Means of Bringing Attention to Social Issue
Visitors to one of the UK's most iconic tourist attractions were treated to an unexpected spectacle on Saturday as a group of protesters threw apple crumble and custard at the display case housing the Crown Jewels. The unusual act of vandalism, which was carried out by a self-described non-violent civil-resistance group called Take Back Power, brought the Jewel House temporarily to a standstill.
According to eyewitnesses, four individuals were arrested following the incident, with police confirming that the protesters had thrown "suspected food" at the display case. The Metropolitan Police and City of London security officers worked together to contain the situation, eventually reopening the site after the protest was brought under control.
Despite initial reports suggesting a full site closure, Historic Royal Palaces confirmed later in the day that only the Jewel House had been shut, with the rest of the attraction able to reopen later on Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, the Crown Jewels themselves were not damaged during the incident.
Take Back Power claimed responsibility for the stunt, stating that it was part of a broader campaign to demand greater action from the UK government on issues such as inequality and taxation. The group is pushing for the establishment of a permanent citizens' assembly – dubbed the "House of the People" – which would have the power to tax extreme wealth and drive reform.
As one protester was seen removing a tray of crumble from a bag and slamming it against the glass case, another demonstrator poured bright yellow custard on the front of the display. The group's slogans, displayed prominently on their T-shirts, read "Take Back Power" – a sentiment echoed in a statement released by 19-year-old Zahra Ali, one of the activists involved.
Ali, who is studying in London, described her country as being on the "brink of collapse", citing issues such as homelessness and economic inequality. She argued that it was time for the wealthy to pay their fair share, sparking widespread debate about the effectiveness of Take Back Power's tactics – which some have hailed as creative and attention-grabbing, while others have condemned as destructive and provocative.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the role of activism in driving social change, with many questioning whether acts of vandalism can effectively bring about meaningful reform.
Visitors to one of the UK's most iconic tourist attractions were treated to an unexpected spectacle on Saturday as a group of protesters threw apple crumble and custard at the display case housing the Crown Jewels. The unusual act of vandalism, which was carried out by a self-described non-violent civil-resistance group called Take Back Power, brought the Jewel House temporarily to a standstill.
According to eyewitnesses, four individuals were arrested following the incident, with police confirming that the protesters had thrown "suspected food" at the display case. The Metropolitan Police and City of London security officers worked together to contain the situation, eventually reopening the site after the protest was brought under control.
Despite initial reports suggesting a full site closure, Historic Royal Palaces confirmed later in the day that only the Jewel House had been shut, with the rest of the attraction able to reopen later on Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, the Crown Jewels themselves were not damaged during the incident.
Take Back Power claimed responsibility for the stunt, stating that it was part of a broader campaign to demand greater action from the UK government on issues such as inequality and taxation. The group is pushing for the establishment of a permanent citizens' assembly – dubbed the "House of the People" – which would have the power to tax extreme wealth and drive reform.
As one protester was seen removing a tray of crumble from a bag and slamming it against the glass case, another demonstrator poured bright yellow custard on the front of the display. The group's slogans, displayed prominently on their T-shirts, read "Take Back Power" – a sentiment echoed in a statement released by 19-year-old Zahra Ali, one of the activists involved.
Ali, who is studying in London, described her country as being on the "brink of collapse", citing issues such as homelessness and economic inequality. She argued that it was time for the wealthy to pay their fair share, sparking widespread debate about the effectiveness of Take Back Power's tactics – which some have hailed as creative and attention-grabbing, while others have condemned as destructive and provocative.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the role of activism in driving social change, with many questioning whether acts of vandalism can effectively bring about meaningful reform.
protesters threw apple crumble & custard at the crown jewels lol 
and now ppl r talkin bout is it effective or just trashy 
they wanna bring attention to inequality & taxation but some say it's just vandalism 
i dunno what to think about take back power tho 
they're like a non-violent civil-resistance group but still threw stuff at the crown jewels 
maybe it's all part of the plan or maybe they just really love apple crumble? 
. I mean, come on, if you want to make a point, don't be lazy and use baked goods as projectiles! It's just amateur hour. And what's with this "Take Back Power" slogan? Sounds like something from a bad sci-fi movie 
. The fact that they're pushing for a permanent citizens' assembly is actually kinda interesting, but the methods are all wrong. They need to find ways to make their message heard without resorting to chaos. Can't we just have a constructive conversation about inequality and taxation? 
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Those are priceless historical items we're talking about 
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. But still, I think they could've done something more constructive 
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. And the Crown Jewels are fine 
. So, that's my two cents on this whole thing 
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. But for real though, I can see where they're coming from. Our gov is making it pretty hard for people to make ends meet, especially with all these wealth gaps 
. And having a permanent citizens' assembly sounds like a solid idea – just imagine being able to hold the rich and powerful accountable for their actions 
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. I think they have a point though, inequality and taxation are huge issues we need to be talking about. But destroying stuff isn't gonna make it happen 
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. and i'm not sure if just having a permanent citizens' assembly would solve all our problems 
. but hey, at least they're trying, right? 
. but i also think it's cool that they were willing to take a stand and get a bit messy 
. maybe this is just the start of something big? 
. The thing is, we're living in a world where billionaires can own more land than some African countries 
lol what's up w/ that?! anyway back 2 the protesters in london... i feel for them they're trying 2 make a point about inequality and taxation which is super relevant imo 
. But one thing's for sure – they're definitely getting people thinking about these issues more than the government ever could on its own 
. And can we please talk about the custard? Who thought that was a good idea? It's not even relevant to the issue they're trying to bring attention to 
Those people are just making it worse... like, who throws apple crumble at the Crown Jewels? 
️ What's next, throwing pies at parliament? It's not gonna solve anything, just more drama and attention-seeking. And now they're talking about getting a permanent citizens' assembly? Sounds like a bunch of idealists to me... 19-year-old Zahra Ali thinks her country is on the "brink of collapse", yeah right... 
. Throwing apple crumble and custard at the Crown Jewels? That's some next-level protesting 
. But let's be real, this is just the beginning – Take Back Power's movement has got my attention 
I mean, imagine showing up to visit the Tower of London expecting to see the Crown Jewels and then having some protesters go and vandalize them. It's not exactly the most welcoming experience.
Because if what they're saying is that the UK government needs to change some things, then maybe they need to find a way to make those changes that doesn't involve destroying priceless historical artifacts. 
But seriously, it's crazy how some people are willing to get arrested for a cause they believe in. Like, if Take Back Power really thinks that inequality and taxation are major issues, then maybe their tactics aren't entirely off the mark...