Hi John,

 

Last week I emailed you because we’re deeply concerned that the government is rushing through a new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. If passed, this bill will seriously threaten everyone's right to peacefully protest in this country. 

 

Can you help us stand up for freedom, democracy, protest and communities?

There is some good news. Because of protests, including those outside parliament led largely by grassroots groups like Sisters Uncut and others, the government has decided to delay the next stage of turning this bill into law. This is a timely reminder that protests do work - and just how vital they are for the functioning of any democracy. [1]

 

We can’t put our feet up yet though. The government is still determined to get this bill passed by the summer. That means we need to do everything we can to stop them and fast.

 

A petition is just one tool that we have to demonstrate the strength of feeling across the country. We’re working with organisations such as Friends of the Earth, Liberty and others to show the government that they’ve got this issue badly wrong. 372,000 people have now signed up to demand the government kill this bill. It’s a huge number of people, but you and I know this could be bigger - and your support will help make our case stronger.

 

Can you help us stand up for freedom, democracy, protest and communities?

Thanks for all that you do,

 

Aakash

Greenpeace UK

 

Note

[1] Policing bill delay shows that protest works

 

PS: Here’s the email I sent you last week.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hi John,

 

For centuries, courageous people have engaged in peaceful protest. From the suffragettes marching for women's right to vote, to millions of people demanding independence from colonial rule, protest has long helped to create a better world. More recently, we have seen people across the globe take to the streets to demand action on the climate emergency, and take the knee to declare that Black Lives Matter. Protest has helped to create a better world.

 

But we’re not done yet. Peaceful protest remains one of the most effective ways to shine a light on injustice, raise awareness and mobilise and inspire others to speak up and find their voice.

 

For almost 50 years, Greenpeace has used the principles of non-violent direct action to highlight environmental crimes and expose abuses of power and greed by governments of all stripes and corporations of all types. When brave activists shut down Kingsnorth power station they radically shifted the debate about coal power in the UK. And when six brave activists climbed to the top of the Shard to highlight Shell’s trashing of the Arctic, it forced people to take notice. 

 

Today the government are trying to rush through a new bill in Parliament that, if passed, would try to put a stop to all of this. [1] Can you quickly sign this petition to stop them? 

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill is hundreds of pages long. It contains many controversial changes to the law and it’s being rushed through with little time to debate and scrutinise the details. [2]

 

By attacking the right to protest, ministers are effectively sabotaging one of the fundamental ways in which we all can correct mistakes, address injustices, and prevent disasters.

 

This bill doesn't just curtail the freedom of a few committed activists but silences the voice of any ordinary person who wants to make a stand for what they believe in. It will leave our democracy weaker and more vulnerable to the influence of powerful vested interests.

 

The government can’t rush through legislation that will make it harder for all of us to hold them to account. They need to scrap the bill and go back to thinking of the best way to preserve democracy, promote a more equal and fair society, and keep us all safe. Can you join us by taking a stand against this attack on democracy?

Non-violent direct action has a long history of raising issues that are now widely accepted, from Votes for Women, to an end to fracking. Losing our right to protest affects our chances of fighting for a greener, fairer and more peaceful world. 

 

We don’t have long to be heard. We’re joining other organisations such as Liberty, Friends of the Earth and many others concerned about our right to protest. [3] Together we want to create a massive force to be reckoned with, to show the government that we won’t tolerate any attack on our civil liberties, and our right to speak truth to power. 

 

With your support, we can push the government to scrap this bill and send a strong message to them that any attacks on the right to protest and freedom of expression will not be tolerated. Can we count on your support?

Thanks for all that you do,

 

Aakash

Greenpeace UK

 

Notes

1. New anti-protest bill raises profound concern and alarm, human rights groups say

2. Public should be ‘really worried’ about new crackdown on right to protest, ex-police chief says

3. Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill – an open letter from civil society

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