The government is attacking democracy.
Posted: 17th May 2023
Their new anti-protest laws resulted in the heavy handed policing of the Coronation last weekend. Protestors were arrested for simply carrying placards and people who weren’t even protesting ended up being detained in the chaos too. [1]
If we want to avoid a repeat of these ugly scenes, we have to repeal these new anti-protest laws now. Please can you take action by signing our urgent petition calling on the government to scrap these new authoritarian powers immediately?
“Repeal the Public Order Act now.”
The government’s new Public Order Act 2023 allows the police to shut down protests before they even happen. To detain people for having things that could be used to lock themselves onto objects or people, which led to protestors being detained for having luggage straps during the coronation! And it also massively expands stop and search and arrest powers, which further harms overpoliced communities and people of colour. [2]
These new powers attack freedom of expression and make it harder for all of us who believe in taking peaceful action to demand social change. They’re a threat to the trade unions, environmental groups, human rights organisations and just about anyone else who believes in speaking truth to power. [3]
But together we can get these new powers scrapped. Last year, you and over 400,000 people signed our huge petition calling on the government to scrap the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which included even more nasty anti-protest laws. Along with signing the petition, thousands of people took to the streets across the UK and thanks to this massive public outcry, the government was forced to back down and to remove some of the more extreme measures in the Bill. [4]
To get the Public Order Act scrapped for good this time, we’re going to need even more public pressure than even before, which means an even bigger petition. So Peter, please can you help us show the scale of opposition to these new powers by signing our urgent petition?
“Repeal the Public Order Act now.”
Our country was built on protest and many of the things we take for granted today like votes for women, the weekend and a free press are the result of generation after generation protesting to demand change. Protest is one of our best tools to create a better world, so we can’t sit back and let the government take it from us.
History proves that people power can and does work, so together we can get these anti-protest laws scrapped. Please take the first step in demanding change by signing our petition - together we are stronger, so every signature counts.
Thanks for taking action,
Aiyan Maharasingam
Greenpeace UK
NOTES:
[1] Police accused of ‘alarming’ attack on protest rights after anti-monarchist leader arrested
[2] Public Order Act: New Protest Offences & ‘Serious Disruption
[3] The Public Order Bill: Explained
[4] Victory! Greenpeace reaction to Police and Crime Bill vote