TThe government cannot do whatever it wants outside of the law. This should not be a controversial statement, but in recent years it has become increasingly important to remind the current British government of this fact. Today, the Supreme Court did just that, ruling that the anti-protest legislation introduced by Home Secretary Suela Braverman last year was illegal, undemocratic and must be repealed immediately.
This is a huge victory for our rights. The law in question gave police nearly unlimited powers to crack down on protests deemed to cause “more than minor” disturbances. This is an incredibly broad and intentionally vague definition, which understandably dragged the entire group of protesters into the criminal justice system.Hundreds of people have already done so, including Greta Thunberg. arrested More than 600 people were killed in November last year alone under this illegal law and several others introduced in recent years.
“Crucially, the Home Secretary had no power to make the law. The Bill had been rejected by Parliament only a few months earlier and was introduced through the back door, without much scrutiny or debate. In doing so, the Government ignored consulting anyone other than those groups likely to agree: the police were consulted, but not protest or community groups. Today’s judgment sends a clear message to the Government that it must act within the law and must not pursue an anti-protest policy at the expense of our rights.
We should all be able to stand up for what we believe in. From the vote for women to Pride, protests have played an important role in improving society for future generations. But this right is continually threatened by governments that seek to introduce legislation that closes off the ways we can stand up for what we believe.
Today’s ruling must be seen in the context of recent years, when the government has introduced a raft of new laws that have created a hostile environment for protesters. Powers in the Police Act and Public Order Act criminalise basic methods of protest, such as being too noisy and locking up, a tactic associated with women’s suffrage. The government has changed the rules to stop certain protest groups with which it does not agree, making it illegal for all of us to protest in certain ways.
Worryingly, further crackdowns on the right to protest are planned. criminal justice bill In the bill, which is currently going through parliament, the government seeks to ban the wearing of face coverings at protests. For some people in Hong Kong, including dissidents and people with disabilities, wearing a mask is the only way to safely protest and confront injustice. Governments must promote this democratic right, not disenfranchise protesters.
This is important. There will come a day when you want to protest against something, from closing your local library to boycotting a brand. When that day comes, this government’s reactionary laws will still be there, limiting how you can make your voice heard. Today’s ruling just strengthens that right a little bit. We must unite to defend it.
