Tuesday, October 15, 2019

XR's Resistance Goes On

"It ain't over 'till it's over," Extinction Rebellion tweeted Tuesday morning in response to the protest ban. "We refuse to bequeath a dying planet to future generations by failing to act now. We act in peace, with ferocious love of life in our hearts. We act on behalf of life. Our international rebellion continues."

Extinction Rebellion activists are continuing protests despite a London-wide ban by police. Extinction Rebellion U.K. signaled that it would refuse to comply with the police order, which the group said is legally "dubious."  Extinction Rebellion campaigners returned to the streets to continue their peaceful protests and non-violent civil disobedience.

"Imposing a blanket ban on Extinction Rebellion protests is an unlawful restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Allan Hogarth, head of advocacy and programs at Amnesty International U.K., said in a statement. "Under U.K. and international human rights law, the government has an obligation to facilitate the exercise of these rights."

Jo Maugham QC said the move was "a huge overreach" of police powers, while human rights lawyer Adam Wagner described it as "draconian and extremely heavy-handed".
Mr Wagner added in a tweet: "We have a right to free speech under article 10 and to free assembly under article 11 of the (annex to the) Human Rights Act. These can only be interfered with if the interference is lawful and proportionate. I think the police may have gone too far here."

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