Scrap new anti-protest laws

A person holding a rectangular sign that says "defend the right to peaceful protest" amongs a crowd

Photo by Mike Kemp via Getty Image

What does the future hold if we allow the government to restrict our right to protest?

The answer is: nothing good.

No matter where we come from or who we vote for, we all want those in power to listen to our concerns on issues we care deeply about. The time to act is now.

The government continues to attack our rights to protest and freedom of expression. They are trying to restrict challenges to their actions, stopping us from holding them to account.

Since 2022 the UK government has passed two different anti-protest laws to clamp down on everyone’s ability to peacefully protest in England and Wales. At the same time, they have demonised and scapegoated protesters. The anti protest restrictions in the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023 must be scrapped.

People across the UK continue to come together in peaceful protest to protect human rights for all.

The UK has a long and important history of street protest. From anti-apartheid protests, marches for climate action, and not-in-my-name anti-war marches.

Many mass protests have demonstrated that the government of the day is on the wrong side of history.

We must not allow this clamp down on our rights. Demand the Home Secretary scraps anti-protest laws today:

We call on the Home Secretary to scrap the anti-protest measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023.

The UK has a long and proud history of protests that have driven positive change in society.

But the new offences and police powers in these Acts are already criminalising and threatening people who take to the streets for a cause they believe in – from racial justice campaigners, to environmental activists to grieving families calling for answers and justice.

The only people who benefit from silencing dissent are those in positions of power, who don’t want to be challenged or held to account.

Everyone has the right to protest. These authoritarian anti-protest laws must be scrapped.

Photo by Mike Kemp via Getty Image

21,751

Help us get to 25,000

Call on the Home Secretary to scrap the anti-protest measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and the Public Order Act 2023.

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