Brixton Buzz is deeply disturbed by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which looks to grant police officers more precise powers to restrict demonstrations.
These will include powers to impose a start and finish time, set noise limits and apply these rules to a demonstration by just one person: so an individual talking through a speaker while holding a protest placard could be fined up to £2,500 if they refuse to stop when ordered b the police.
The appalling policing of the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham earlier this week has raised even more concerns about what powers police officers should have to restrict to restrict peaceful demonstrations, and a large group of UK activists have now issued a statement in opposition to the Bill, which we’ve reproduced In full below:
#KILLTHEBILL
This is an open statement written by a coalition of UK organisations, groups & social movements of all ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, sexualities, faiths, abilities, ages and social standings, who have united to challenge the UK government.
We are extremely troubled and disturbed by the newly proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill in its current form. The deliberately vague language used would enable the police to act unilaterally with near unlimited discretion.
This appears to be a blatant attempt to create an authoritarian police state, where the voices of ordinary people, particularly those most marginalised and disadvantaged, are silenced by state sanctioned penalties.
We collectively decry this move by the UK government and demand that MPs Kill The Bill.
The rights to peacefully assemble and protest are a fundamental part of any democracy, empowering people to have their voices heard, in addition to holding the Government to account.
This is also in direct contrast to the assurances the UK government gave that it will uphold the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as breaking with the UN Covenant on Human Rights.
Unless Her Majesty’s Government changes its current course of action, we cannot foresee that the mounting public unrest from all sides will cease, nor that it should. Such is the nature of democracy.
We would like to remind the Home Secretary and the Government that they serve by democratic mandate that is handed to them by the will of the people.
We the signees, and millions across the country, will continue to unite and fight to protect the fundamental human rights that every single one of us is entitled to.
#UniteForHumanRights
#SaveOurDemocracies
#KillTheBill
#ProtectOurRightToProtestBlack Music Movement
Black lives matter Leeds
Merseyside BLM Alliance
Labour Party LGBTQ+ Network
United for Black lives
Justice 4 Minorities
Brighton BLM
Northern Police Monitoring Project (NPMP)
Extinction Rebellion UK
The Roundhouse, London
Reclaim the Night Leeds
All Black Lives UK
Leeds Tidal
RAAH CIC
Extinction Rebellion Youth UK
Reclaim These Streets Portsmouth
Justice for Black Lives
Manchester March
The Outside Project
Nigerians United in the Diaspora
Nigerian Angel
Brixton’s Baddest Skate Shop
BLM London
Angel of Youths
Reclaim These Streets York
XR Justice Steering Group
My Queer Culture
XR Southsea – Website, xrsouthsea@protonmail.com
CEE Bill Alliance Portsmouth
XR Brighton
XR Brighton UNI’S
XR Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
MLC Britain — Instagram, Twitter, E-mail
XR Portsmouth
XR Educators
XR Scientists
XR Waveney East
YCL Britain — Instagram, Twitter, Website
Cops Off Campus
XR Haringey
XR Barnet
XR York
XR Warrington
Anti-Oppression Circle
Royal Holloway Left Forum
Royal Holloway LGBT+ Society Committee
Royal Holloway Labour Society
XR/HS2 Support Network
Lambeth and Southwark Antifascist League
Haringey antifascists
IN.Society- instagram
XR Croydon
XR Unify
XRUPT – Extinction Rebellion Underground Partisan Tendency
The Voice of Colour
XR Lambeth
Anti-harassment Club Brighton
BLM Leamington
XR kensington and chelsea
XR London Nonviolence and Deescalation Circle
BLM Portsmouth
Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth
Project E
Amazon Rebellion
Brazil Matters
Harrow and Kenton Antifascist & Anti-Racist Association
Real RCG
Imperial College Left Forum
HS2 Health MDT – providing voluntary healthcare to HS2 protest camps.
9K4what
9k4
Whatyork
York student solidarity network
Pen ting poetry
Minority Protection Initiative
9k4what_newcastle
9k4what_northumbria
9k4whatstirling
9k4what_uclan
BLM for Stoke
BLM Warrington
XR Northampton
XR Kettering
XR Digital Rebellion
XR Oxford
XR Oxford Family Group
XR Oxford EDI WG
Oxford Unity
Haringey Antifascists
Real RCGRunnymede Antifascists
Reclaim The Night Leeds
Liam sent Today at 12:54
The 4th Demand Network
Papua Militant International
Animal Rebellion West London
XR Cymru
XR Cardiff
XR Youth (Internationalist) Solidarity
Fridays For Future Europe
Join the discussion and find out more
- Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill (over 70 responses)
- Sarah Everard: missing woman from Brixton (over 1,000 responses)