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Sunday the 8th, Part 1: Right to Protest vs. Pandemic, S.o.E.
People have a right to protest. But that right is subject to reasonable laws and laws respond to our environment. And Covid-19 is our new environment. That being said, being gathered unlawfully does not give the police a clear justification for drastic displays of force. In this episode, two lawyers and an activist discuss the freedom to protest against the backdrop of the tear gassing of a non-violent assembly of protesters on Market Street on Sunday the 8th of August - an assembly which police deemed unlawful.
The level of force used by police to disperse the non-violent but obstinate crowd was wrong, needless and abusive, guests say. As for the protesters, our guests say people should respect and abide by the law, and recognize the danger that gatherings have of spreading Covid-19. But they worry about the extent to which emergency laws and unreasonable decisions by those in authority may result in an unreasonable curtailment of the right to protest.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
If we must exercise our right to protest in conjunction with fair and reasonable decisions by the police, then we rely on the police to be fair and reasonable, right? Otherwise, our rights may be infringed. Why did the denial of permission for the march come mere days before the planned date? The request was reportedly sent more than two weeks in advance. If organizers were willing to demonstrate in one area, and not march (since permission was denied) why not accommodate them?
Beyond the debate over a march (permission denied) vs picket (no permission needed supposedly), public health rules restrict the number of people who may gather a public space. It would seem obvious that the demonstration was at least in breach of that. Were organisers not themselves, reckless to have congregated so many people in such a space? As for the police though, if numbers were anticipated to be too large, why not work with organisers to break up the event into smaller actions?
Protesters went into the event and came away from it feeling stifled, as though police unreasonably frustrated their attempt to demonstrate, then doubled down with force, even though demonstrators did not march. The police commissioner has dismissed claims of having any agenda, pointing to numerous peaceful pickets throughout the pandemic which did not encounter resistance from law enforcement officers. That's certainly true.
Yet, many are wary of governments and their police forces when they have emergency powers which allow them to curtail movement, and restrict assembly. How divorced are the police from the whims of ministers? Public Safety Minister Steadroy "Cutie" Benjamin warned just on Saturday, August 7th, that those who planned to participate "have another thing coming". You could see why some remain suspicious of police motives on Sunday the 8th.
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on August 15th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.
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By The Big Issues Production TeamPeople have a right to protest. But that right is subject to reasonable laws and laws respond to our environment. And Covid-19 is our new environment. That being said, being gathered unlawfully does not give the police a clear justification for drastic displays of force. In this episode, two lawyers and an activist discuss the freedom to protest against the backdrop of the tear gassing of a non-violent assembly of protesters on Market Street on Sunday the 8th of August - an assembly which police deemed unlawful.
The level of force used by police to disperse the non-violent but obstinate crowd was wrong, needless and abusive, guests say. As for the protesters, our guests say people should respect and abide by the law, and recognize the danger that gatherings have of spreading Covid-19. But they worry about the extent to which emergency laws and unreasonable decisions by those in authority may result in an unreasonable curtailment of the right to protest.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
If we must exercise our right to protest in conjunction with fair and reasonable decisions by the police, then we rely on the police to be fair and reasonable, right? Otherwise, our rights may be infringed. Why did the denial of permission for the march come mere days before the planned date? The request was reportedly sent more than two weeks in advance. If organizers were willing to demonstrate in one area, and not march (since permission was denied) why not accommodate them?
Beyond the debate over a march (permission denied) vs picket (no permission needed supposedly), public health rules restrict the number of people who may gather a public space. It would seem obvious that the demonstration was at least in breach of that. Were organisers not themselves, reckless to have congregated so many people in such a space? As for the police though, if numbers were anticipated to be too large, why not work with organisers to break up the event into smaller actions?
Protesters went into the event and came away from it feeling stifled, as though police unreasonably frustrated their attempt to demonstrate, then doubled down with force, even though demonstrators did not march. The police commissioner has dismissed claims of having any agenda, pointing to numerous peaceful pickets throughout the pandemic which did not encounter resistance from law enforcement officers. That's certainly true.
Yet, many are wary of governments and their police forces when they have emergency powers which allow them to curtail movement, and restrict assembly. How divorced are the police from the whims of ministers? Public Safety Minister Steadroy "Cutie" Benjamin warned just on Saturday, August 7th, that those who planned to participate "have another thing coming". You could see why some remain suspicious of police motives on Sunday the 8th.
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on August 15th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.