UK Political clampdown on right to protest

[Andy_T]

UK (and other places, unfortunately): Political clampdown on right to protest​

I read a very chilling article on the Guardian this morning…

‘They’ve taken away my freedom’: the truth about the UK state’s crackdown on protesters

Dozens of people have been imprisoned, as changes in the law are used to curb protest. Is it part of a turn towards a more authoritarian state?

www.theguardian.com

We have been experiencing a similar issue in the last weeks in Germany with the protests at Luetzerath, a small village that was condemned to be destroyed in order to extract brown coal, where government members from the Green Party (!) inspected the police shock troops before they cracked down on the environmental protesters. Greta Thunberg was arrested at this protest, which hopefully brought a bit of publicity.

In doomed coal village, Germany’s Greens go to war among themselves

Chaotic scenes in Lützerath as thousands of protesters confront armored police with truncheons and pepper spray.

www.politico.eu

As usual, the American approach might be even worse - the article also mentioned the protester who was possibly assassinated in cold blood by police recently in Georgia.

‘Assassinated in cold blood’: activist killed protesting Georgia’s ‘Cop City’

Killing of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, who opposed training facility, is ‘unprecedented’ in history of environmental activism, experts say

www.theguardian.com

 

[Second Summer]

It seems the UK legal system, including certain judges, has become exceptionally hostile to protestors, and even more so over the past few years.

Just Stop Oil Protestors Receive Harshest Jail Terms Yet in Case that 'May Violate Human Rights Law'

The trial and sentencing of the protesters has been described as a "low point in British justice" and an "assault on free speech"

bylinetimes.com

 

[shyvas]

It seems the UK legal system, including certain judges, has become exceptionally hostile to protestors, and even more so over the past few years.

Just Stop Oil Protestors Receive Harshest Jail Terms Yet in Case that 'May Violate Human Rights Law'

The trial and sentencing of the protesters has been described as a "low point in British justice" and an "assault on free speech"

bylinetimes.com

Or is it that there are far more violent protests that are endangering the public and also distrusting daily life? In the UK as within the EU people have the right to demonstrate as long as it’s in a peaceful manner and that respects the safety of the public.

I do many demos in Brighton and the police never turn up.

Our group demonstrated outside HSBC which is on a main and busy toad. We had megaphones, huge banners and we also chalked the pavement. We also placed stickers on their ATM machines.

I cannot post the pix as they are on the FB page.

 

[No Longer Active]

Or is it that there are far more violent protests that are endangering the public and also distrusting daily life? In the UK as within the EU people have the right to demonstrate as long as it’s in a peaceful manner and that respects the safety of the public.

I do many demos in Brighton and the police never turn up.

Our group demonstrated outside HSBC which is on a main and busy toad. We had megaphones, huge banners and we also chalked the pavement. We also placed stickers on their ATM machines.

I cannot post the pix as they are on the FB page.

It's commonly the case that people who have been in trouble only report the things they want others to see. I am always skeptical of these kind of reports. Our legal system isn't perfect but I doubt that it is being abused by the judicial system to the degree reported.