Freedom to Protest: 2005 Conference Papers

The freedomtoprotest.org.uk site is due to close imminently....

In 2005 the McLibel case defendants, after the longest trial in English history (vs the McDonald's Corporation), celebrated a legal victory at the European Court of Human Rights. 

See www.mcspotlight.org   This capped a 15 year long successful global campaign of publicity and defiance against McDonald's attempts to suppress criticism.  The McLibel Support Campaign then linked up with a number of campaign groups to discuss how to develop wider solidarity and resistance to oppression. 

On October 23rd,  230 people from over 80 local and national organisations took part in a historic Freedom To Protest conference in North London. The conference was organised by and for campaigns and groups affected by recent repressive laws and measures being increasingly used by the government and companies to try to suppress public protest and dissent. Participants pledged to help develop and support effective strategies for standing up for the public's freedom to protest against injustice and oppression.

There was a very wide and diverse range of local and national organisations supporting and taking part, including:  Aldermaston Women's Peace camp; Birmingham Guantanamo Campaign; Campaign Against Criminalising Communities; Campaign Against the Arms Trade; Campaign to Close Campsfield; Cardiff World Development Movement; Corporate Watch; Friends of the Earth; Gate Gourmet strikers; Genetic Engineering Network; Haringey Against ID Cards; Hunt Saboteurs Association; Legal Defence and Monitoring Group; London Rising Tide; McLibel Support Campaign; Newham Monitoring Project; Parliament Square Peace Campaign and Brian Haw Supporters; Peace News; Rhythms of Resistance; Schnews; School Students Against the War; Torbay & District Trades Union Council; Trident Ploughshares; Undercurrents; and the Veggies Catering Campaign.

Those present shared their experiences and views in order to promote mutual aid & co-ordination between organisations, and to inspire and empower each other. At the end, participants sent out some positive and determined messages:

- Wherever there is injustice or oppression, there is protest and resistance 
- Repression will never succeed in silencing public dissent and protest
- Any oppressive laws can be rendered unworkable through increased protest, non-co-operation and defiance.

Full details of the conference can be read here. (24pp.)