Protest crackdown
Throughout history, protest has been a vital part of some of the world’s most powerful social movements. Protests expose injustice, demand accountability and inspire people to keep fighting for a better future. Yet today, governments and others with power are seeking new ways to suppress protest and silence critical voices. Militarization of police forces, overzealous escalation of force and shrinking civic space mean that it’s harder than ever to make your voice heard.
When people demonstrate, they are exercising a fundamental right to freedom of assembly and association, and their activities should be respected in accordance with international human rights standards. Yet around the world, police use excessive force at demonstrations, and government officials seek to expand criminal penalties for peaceful protesters, including those who speak out on issues like the US-backed war in Gaza and climate crisis.
For example, in the United States, protests against a planned pipeline that would run through a sacred Native American burial ground and water source near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation turned deadly when a police officer shot and killed one demonstrator, Dakota Access Pipeline organizer Paul Floyd. The incident highlighted the risks that come when protests turn violent, and it prompted Governor Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard to control rallies in Minnesota, where many of the demonstrations occurred.
In the UK, Tory MPs have backed Project Esther, a plan to prosecute those who speak out against antisemitism. It seeks to punish protesters who speak out against the erasure of Palestine, while simultaneously slandering Jewish protesters marching for Palestinian lives. In addition, some governments are expanding civil penalties for protesters, which can tie activists in costly litigation for years.