Your right to protest
Learn about your right to protest, and non-violent direct action.
The history of protesting
Civil protesting has been around in one form or another for many hundreds of years. The Tolpuddle Martyrs were carted off to Australia in 1830 for protesting about rich landowners, while Wat Tyler, in 1381, led the original poll tax protestors pre-empting the 1990 protestors by over 500 years. Tyler's band were captured and put to death, their objectives unrealised while the 1990ers had an afternoon of rioting and the bill was abolished. Mind you they did have Julian Cope on their side, dressed as an eight-foot space alien.
While protests like the mayday riots in London and the protests against the WTO (World Trade Organisation) in the United States and Geneva tend to grab the headlines for all the wrong reasons there has been an emphasis towards peaceful protesting or non-violent direct action (NVDA) as it is also called.
What is peaceful protesting or NVDA?
It means that you can take part in public protest but that it does not involve violence against property or persons, whether they are rival protestors, objects of your protest or the police. The point of peaceful protesting is to get your point across whether that is to like minded others or what is deemed as the opposition. It can be extremely effective as it gets excellent media coverage, increases awareness of your campaign and encourages others to join your campaign.
What you can do as part of NVDA:
- You can take part in or organise a rally, march or assembly. But as an organiser you must seek permission from the police first stating how many people you expect to turn up, time and place and the route of a march;
- A sit-in;
- A blockade;
- You can run a stall, but you must seek permission from your local council first before doing so.
Can I still be arrested?
Yes, even on a peaceful protest. A sit-down protest or a blockade even with absence of violence can be construed as obstruction as can blocking the streets, pavements or buildings. Chanting racist remarks or remarks likely to incite violence will also lead to arrest.
Jason Green has been involved in both peaceful and violent confrontational protests. He has protested on behalf of Reclaim the Streets, gone on anti-capitalism marches, and has been a hunt saboteur.
"While there is something to be said for confrontational or violent protesting, I think that it is very short-termist, it attracts a bad element and it gets such bad publicity. I think that the May Day riots while showing that so many people are angry also overshadowed the people who were peacefully protesting. Given the choice I would now rather use NVDA methods."
Pressure groups like the league against Cruel Sports, CND, and Drop the Debt have long been advocates of peaceful protests. Drop the Debt have been so successful that governments have now dropped many of the crippling debts owed by the poorer countries of the world.
"Drop the debt condemns any form of violence. Supporters come for a peaceful and positive march to send a clear message to the G8 to cancel more debt. The debt burden in the poorest countries has been a central issue at the G8 annual summits since 70,000 peaceful campaigners filled the streets of Birmingham in May 1998. Amidst the security concerns and speculation, the G8 must take on the criticisms of peaceful campaigners."
