'Endangering democracy': Defiant UK groups say controversial anti-protest law must go

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – Activists and rights groups are striking a defiant tone in the face of the UK’s controversial new law to clamp down on protests.

After being passed by parliament and receiving royal assent, parts of the Public Order Act 2023 came into force days ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, giving police the authority to take stronger action against protesters.

Those powers were exercised as dozens of people were arrested around the coronation, most of them on charges of planning to disrupt the royal ceremony.

Among them were members of the environmental NGO Just Stop Oil and anti-Monarchy group Republic, but both organizations have vowed to keep up their fight.

Mel Carrington, spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, said the government “has bypassed the democratic process to grant police the power to not only ban every protest they do not agree with, but ban it before it even takes place.”

“We believe that anything is possible,” the spokesperson said, referring to the coronation arrests.

Slamming the government for “trying to suppress opposition to its genocidal plans,” the spokesperson said British courts are “buckling under the strain of their authoritarian crackdown and the prisons are full.”

According to Ben Clinton, communications officer at Republic, the new law is clearly “endangering democracy” in the UK.

“The Public Order Act essentially now makes your right to protest contingent on the consent of police officers and governmental officials. The UK is meant to be a liberal democracy,” he told Anadolu.

He labelled the legislation “a farce” trampling on basic rights and the freedom of speech.

“You can now be arrested, as in Republic’s situation, for simply carrying some luggage straps, which the police can claim you’re going to use to tie yourself to buildings and railings, even if such a notion is complete and utter nonsense,” said Clinton, who was among the Republic activists arrested on coronation day.

- ‘Indefinite campaign of resistance’

Apart from local ones, the law has also drawn criticism from international groups and organizations.

The UN human rights office termed it “deeply troubling” and “wholly unnecessary,” saying it “imposes serious and undue restrictions … that are neither necessary nor proportionate.”

Amnesty International pointed out that it gives authorities “yet more draconian powers” to restrict people’s fundamental right to peaceful protest.

The British government contends the law aims to protect the public and businesses from “unacceptable actions.”

It said the measures outlined are necessary “to bolster the police’s powers to respond more effectively to disruptive and dangerous protests.”

Carrington, the Just Stop Oil spokesperson, asserted that the group will continue its fight “for as long as it takes.”

About the group’s daily marches taking place for over a month in London, the spokesperson said they were part of an “indefinite campaign of resistance” that is garnering growing support from people.

“All the rights that we now have were won through civil resistance – the right to vote, the right to strike, and the right to protest,” Carrington said, warning that all of them are now under threat.

- ‘This bill must go’

Republic official Clinton said the manner of their members’ arrest was proof of the unbridled powers granted to authorities.

“The police arrested us while unloading our placards for simply having some luggage straps,” he said.

That happened despite the fact the group had over four months of discussions with the police, informing them of their intent to stage a peaceful, non-disruptive protest, according to Clinton.

While all charges were eventually dropped, he said Republic is still looking to pursue legal action.

“This bill must go. If it stays in place and arrests continue, the UK will simply not be a democracy anymore,” he said.