A new viral video has called out the government’s plan to make changed to the Public Order Act 1986. It has been called called out the government’s abuse of power happening in front of our eyes.
The government’s latest attempt to restrict the right to protest could have a “chilling effect” on those who want to attend protests, a leading barrister has told Friends of the Earth.
Adam Wagner, of Doughty Street Chambers said: “The threshold would be so low that it could lead to police imposing conditions on protests which would breach the rights of protesters,” his opinion says.
He also states: “The lower threshold, and the unclear terms used in the regulations, would also likely lead to a chilling effect on people who want to attend protests.”
Current law on right to protest?
Everyone has the right to peaceful protest. While there is no specific right in law, it is enshrined in the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, protected respectively under articles 10 and 11 of the European convention on human rights, which was directly incorporated into domestic British law by the Human Rights Act, reports The Guardian.
Government’s abuse of power
Peter Stefanovic tweeted the video and wrote: “This week the Government will use an UNPRECEDENTED ABUSE OF POWER to restrict the publics right to protest. Why are UK news shows not all over it?”
The petition is growing by the minute.
Peter shared a link to it and wrote: “OVER 42,000 HAVE NOW SIGNED the petition demanding @LabourLordsUK back Tuesdays fatal motion tabled by @GreenJennyJones to stop Sunak’s Government restricting our right to protest using an unprecedented abuse of power. Keep signing!”
Labour has tried to justify why it won’t support the fatal motion tabled by Baroness Jenny Jones.
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