Rule of the Mob - Batley School

If it places lives in danger, doesn't that move it strongly away from being a peaceful protest...?

I agree that the right to protest is crucial for any democracy, but a line has to be drawn somewhere doesn't it?

 

Okay, so what is the line. When the government says its bad?

 

That's a very good question and its a difficult one to answer. It can't be the government as such, because much protest is against the government in some form, so it becomes self defeating in terms of protest being a democratic right. Ultimately, the police has a responsibility to uphold public safety so I can't think of an alternative means of doing it,but given the increasingly polarised nature of society, I think there does need to be some sort of independent body appointed specifically to 'regulated the manner in which protests are held and policed. But all that really does is shift the problem.

 

Any body, no matter how independent, is not going to be free from bias.

What happens if you disagree with the independent body? Can't protest about that.

In the absence of a firm and fair line the only answer is that anybody can protest at whatever time they feel the need to. Any other answer causes more problems than it solves.

 

Very fair point.