Churches Together in England General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal, was amongst nineteen faith leaders who signed an open letter in opposition to the “cumulative disruption” clause in the Crime and Policing Bill.
The joint letter, co-ordinated by Quakers in Britain and signed by leaders of the United Reformed Church, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union, along with representatives of other denominations and Cytûn (Churches Together in Wales), warns that the clause “undermines our right to peaceful protest. It is vague and broad, meaning that it could affect a huge range of protests. It could mean that we are stopped from demonstrating because another protest previously took place in the same area, even if it was on a completely different issue”.
Speaking on Premier Radio, Bishop Mike said: “What is happening here is what you might describe as a chilling effect on the right to peacefully protest, to assemble and to protest against something or for something that you have a concern about. And we think that’s a democratic right that is at the heart of a functioning democracy.
“I think it’s important as Christians and as faith groups that we are upholding those rights. Many of the rights that we have around civil rights and globally is because Christians have stood up and made a point, often at great cost, and that right should be maintained in a modern, functioning democracy.”
The government says that the clause is aimed at tackling the problems caused to local communities by repeated protests. Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, argued: “The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives without fear. Large, repeated protests can leave sections of our country, particularly religious communities, feeling unsafe, intimidated and scared to leave their homes.”
MPs voted on 14 April to approve the new protest restrictions.
Responding to the vote, Paul Parker, Recording Clerk of Quakers in Britain said: “Peaceful protest motivated by faith, belief and love should be celebrated, not criminalised. This legislation adds to the increasingly hostile climate for protesters who seek a better world for us all. Quakers will continue to campaign for these measures to be repealed and for a healthy democracy in which ordinary people can hold their leaders to account. That is what it takes to build a truly peaceful world.”
The Bill is currently passing through further Parliamentary stages.
Photo credit: Michael Preston for Quakers in Britain