Over 50 Anonymous activists arrested at Million Mask March in London

London police have arrested 53 participants of an annual Million Mask March on Saturday, who took to London streets up to protest inequality and censorship. While minor clashes broke out between some of the activists and police, the rally was largely peaceful.

The protesters, many of whom covered their faces with Guy Fawkes masks, marched from Trafalgar Square to Parliament, shouting anti-globalist slogans. Although, it did not come to major altercations between the activists and police, sporadic scuffles broke out in the Trafalgar Square and near Buckingham Palace.

LIVE UPDATES: Million Mask March 2016 across the globe 

RT’s Ruptly video agency which followed the protest live showed activists being arrested for refusing to remove their disguise as ordered by police, who had enforced sections Section 60 and Section 60AA of the law providing them with the authority to “remove face coverings.” The move slammed by protestors as excessive.  

Speaking to the agency, one of the protesters said that police officers were allegedly seizing activists’ drinks.

For its part, police accused protesters of throwing fireworks at police and lightning flares. In its official statement, police, however, admitted that “the majority of those taking part were peaceful,” adding that no injuries were inflicted by the fireworks.

Praising the police efforts, commander BJ Harrington of the Met’s Public Order Command thanked the demonstrators who “conducted themselves in a peaceful manner,” adding that “only a small minority chose to breach the conditions and engage in criminality.”

Among the reasons the led to arrests the police listed drug offenses, violations of public order and, weapon possession of “offensive weapon” and criminal damage.  

The event was attended by thousands of activists and was a part of a global Million Mask March held under the slogan, “People shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” The protest movement was joined by thousands of anti-establishment activists around the world with some 750 cities expected to take part, including in the US.