Left-wing activists stage protest demanding abolition of House of Lords in UK

​​​​​​​By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A group of activists staged a protest Friday that targeted the king's throne in the House of Lords, demanding that the House of Lords be abolished.

Members of the left-wing Assemble protest group unfurled a banner in front of the king's throne that read: "Replace the Lords."

Protesters were believed to have climbed over barriers during a tour of parliament before revealing the banner.

Photos online showed that some of the protesters were detained by the Metropolitan Police, but have since been released.

They defend the "People's Charter," which they describe as "a new democratic mandate for the UK."

A spokesman for Assemble said it was not a protest against the monarchy.

"The King has a symbolic role in government, but the Lords have real power, and they’re corrupt as hell," said a statement.

"It's time to replace them with a fair and democratic citizens' assembly," it added.