Government has sentenced sixteen peaceful protestors for a total of forty-one years.

Tell the new Labour government to protect democracy and reverse the crackdown on protests

Today the Court of Appeal has been hearing an appeal to reduce these extreme sentences. We along with Friends of the Earth are formally intervening, to try and persuade the court that these sentences are an obvious breach of human rights. In a powerful display of unity, people have also gathered outside in support and solidarity, including from other human rights groups Amnesty and Liberty.

 

Draconian anti-protest laws were first put in place by the last Tory government, but the new Labour government seems determined to continue the attack on the rights and freedoms that people have to take action. [3] This has even led to a 77 year old retired female teacher with health problems spending Christmas in jail for peacefully protesting. [4]

 

These new anti-protest laws have powers to arrest people marching down the street for only minor disruption, round up people carrying placards, conduct suspicionless stop and search and put protestors in prison for up to 10 years. This is all for peaceful and nonviolent protests. [5,6,7]

 

Peaceful protest is vital to a healthy democracy - without protest we wouldn’t have weekends, women wouldn’t be able to vote, and fracking would still be allowed. Even something as simple as being able to take a walk in the countryside was won through protest. [8] You might not agree with every single protest you see – you might not even agree with climate protests – but this legislation could be used to stop you from making your voice heard on anything that matters to you. That’s why we must all protect the right to protest.

 

Together we must show the government that this attack on our fundamental freedoms is unacceptable. Can you call on them to stop the crackdown on our right to expression?

Stop the attack on democracy and peaceful protest

The UN has called for the reversal of the Public Order Act and has described it as ‘deeply troubling’, while many long-established organisations like Amnesty and Liberty expressed serious concern about the crackdown on peaceful protest this and other bills represent. [9,10]

 

The rights we enjoy were hard fought for, but we risk losing them. Make sure you join the chorus of concerned citizens and experts who are calling on the government to restore our right to peaceful protest. Make sure you act.

 

Thanks for all you do,

Anthony

 

Notes:

[1] Five Just Stop Oil activists receive record sentences for planning to block M25

[2] ‘Not acceptable in a democracy’: UN expert condemns lengthy Just Stop Oil sentences

[3] UK accused of undermining democratic rights with climate protest crackdown

[4] Elderly activist to spend Christmas in prison because tag does not fit

[5] The Policing Bill – What Happened, And What Now? 

[6] Police make 630 arrests of climate protesters in London in one month

[7] The Public Order Bill: Explained

[8] Does peaceful protest work?

[9] UN Human Rights Chief urges UK to reverse ‘deeply troubling’ Public Order Bill

[10] ‘The nightmare after Halloween’: Groups urge Parliament to drop resurrected anti-protest proposals