Climate activists defy police ban to keep London protests going
This article, Climate activists defy police ban to keep London protests going, originally appeared on CBSNews.com
The move by police to ban the protests was condemned by some politicians on Tuesday. One Member of Britain's Parliament, Ellie Chowns, was arrested alongside protesters Monday night.
"Last night I was arrested in Trafalgar Square while defending the right to peaceful public protest. That right is central to a functioning democracy. Yesterday, public protest was banned throughout our capital city. This is a completely unjustified and disproportionate measure," Chowns tweeted.
Last night I was arrested in Trafalgar Square while defending the right to peaceful public protest. That right is central to a functioning democracy. Yesterday, public protest was banned throughout our capital city. This is a completely unjustified and disproportionate measure.
— Ellie Chowns MEP (@EllieChownsMEP) October 15, 2019
Another Member of Parliament, Molly Scott Cato, tweeted that the ban was "a terrible sight in a democracy."
A terrible sight in a democracyPolice are occupying Trafalgar Square to prevent peaceful protestThis is the work of Priti Pitel's Home OfficeAnd where is @SadiqKhan? pic.twitter.com/xkMlJjvMfZ
— Molly Scott Cato MEP (@MollyMEP) October 15, 2019
In a statement released Tuesday, Amnesty International called the ban on the climate protesters, "chilling and unlawful."
"Removing and prosecuting activists for engaging in non-violent direct action to raise their voice is deeply worrying," Amnesty's head of advocacy and programs, Allan Hogarth, said in a statement.
In announcing the ban, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the London police, Laurence Taylor, said: "We have made significant progress in managing Extinction Rebellion's activity at sites across central London over this past week. Officers have begun the process of clearing Trafalgar Square and getting things back to normal."
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