Written evidence from Extinction Rebellion Families (PCS0174)

Extinction Rebellion Families is a community political action group that formed as a family orientated branch of Extinction Rebellion. Our primary concern is the climate crisis and the relevant government inaction that is affecting all of our lives, and will especially impact our children. We are made up of thousands of families from all over the UK. We have put this report together from evidence collected by survey from our members. We have addressed three of the proposed questions.

1. Are the proposed changes to the law governing public assemblies, processions and one-person protests necessary to protect those adversely affected by such activities?

No.

‘When I was a student I protested against the war in Iraq, and against inaction on climate change. I have also marched with the Kurdish community in London against the Turkish State bombing civilians living in the town of Afrin in Northern Syria. My sister Anna was killed in Afrin by Turkish Airstrikes while she was evacuating civilians. The danger comes from authorities, governments and people in positions of power, not from the protestors, who are there to hold these groups accountable.’

 100% of our members who took the survey reported that protest was a positive experience for them and their families.

Our members reported feeling safe and uplifted whilst being part of peaceful protests that seek to raise awareness of the climate and ecological emergency. Experiences have been pleasant, community and solidarity strengthening.

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‘I take my children to XR demonstrations because I want to give them a road map for action. The only time I have felt threatened while protesting was due to police officers. I was in Whitehall in London, during a protest in October 2019. Police blocked me from leaving the area whilst I was walking down the public pavement with my toddler in a buggy. This was just because I was suspected of being part of the protest.’

‘Being able to protest has had an extremely positive impact on my life and my children's lives. My kids love protests and standing up for what they believe in.’

‘Protestors have never made me feel threatened in any way. They have opened my eyes up to corruption.’

The changes in this law are not to protect the protestors, but are instead to protect businesses, the government and corporations from financial losses. We are acutely aware that the most serious harm being caused to populations all over the world is due to pollution and exploitation of land, resources and people.

Our members saw restrictions in section 59 of the bill as hypocritical; It is the Government that is causing “serious harm to the public” (Section 59 (1) (b) (i)) by its inaction on the climate emergency; The Government’s inadequacy to address the crisis is leading to the public “suffering serious distress, serious annoyance, serious inconvenience and serious loss of amenity” (Section 59 (2) (c)) that far exceeds any protest.

It is the Government that is “obstructing the public right to enjoy” (Section 59 (1) (b) (ii)) the natural world as they continue to exploit and destroy it by polluting, and with mass deforestation schemes. Climate change has been causing more severe flooding in recent years, and food shortages and food poverty are becoming more prevalent. These are examples of how the government are causing “personal injury and loss of and damage to property” (Section 59 (2) (b)). The Government is refusing to address or take satisfactory action to deal

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with root cause of these problems. Peaceful protest is the only way to stand up against these threats, and with these restrictions in place, there will be no way for the general public to demand better from their leaders.

XR Families demand the government pay attention. We hold them to account with our actions, and bring the danger that the government is putting us in to public attention. Protest gives our children a platform. As they cannot vote, it is the only way that young people’s voices can be heard in our political system. Climate anxiety and depression are rising issues in the general population, especially with young people. Taking part in protest and political activism improves the mental health of people with these rational fears and anxieties. If their rights to participate in this part of democracy are taken, they will “suffer serious distress” as a result. By seeking to protect those adversely affected the government is adversely affecting the wellbeing of others – effectively deciding whose wellbeing is most important.

2. Do the proposals in part 3 of the bill adequately protect the right to peaceful assembly (Article 11 ECHR) and the right to free expression (Article 10 ECHR)?

No, they don’t.

 100% of our members reported that this bill put too many restrictions on what is acceptable to protest, to the extent that protest will not be effective.

 68% reported that with this bill, they will be afraid to exercise their rights to protest.

 47% reported that they would be less likely to take part in protest with these heavier restrictions in place.

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As a group, we follow the science and take proportionate action out of necessity in the interest of national public safety, in line with the current guidelines within the ECHR. This bill would deem many of our previous demonstrations illegal. Lives are being lost due to the climate crisis, and the science shows us that if we continue to follow the current trajectory, most of our children will not reach their life expectancy. Making noise and disruption in the streets is both necessary and proportionate.

Members commented on the importance of protest to democracy and social justice, and expressed concerns over the Bill’s chilling impact on their ability to exercise the right to protest:

‘Protest is essential and a fundamental human right. Without the right to protest, people have no way of standing up against injustice and voicing their unhappiness with leaders of this country. Public demonstration are also essential to show support for and highlight urgent issues and causes.’

‘With these new laws I will not be able to protest or exercise my right to free expression as I could be arrested. As a non UK citizen I would also risk deportation, which could have severe consequences for my family. I will be in deep conflict with my conscience as we are on the brink of extinction and to sit and do nothing to change this destiny goes against all of my values and beliefs.’

‘We are being restricted and deterred from organising family friendly action. Children will not be as able attend and take part in protests. It will exclude people from marginalised groups, carers and all those for whom arrest is not an option.’

Members also highlighted the value of protest to raise awareness and affect policy:

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‘Protests have raised my and my family’s awareness of important issues such as racial and gender equality and environmental issues. I feel part of a democracy that allows free speech and freedom expression’

‘The Youth Strikes I took part in resulted in our City Council declaring a climate emergency.’

‘These protests have had a powerful impact on both individuals and policy, raising awareness of the climate emergency and creating a collective vision of a better future.’

3. Does the Bill give rise to any other human rights concerns?

Yes.

Our group is terrified about the prospect of a 4 degree warmer world. This is an existential crisis, and if those temperatures are reached, human rights will be irrelevant as humans will be entirely extinct. However, before it reaches that point, we have grave concerns over who will suffer most severely at the cost of protecting those with the most money.

‘I am hugely worried about the loss of biodiversity, rising temperatures and soil erosion. These threats pose an unimaginable risk to humanity, and need addressing swiftly and decisively. This is not being addressed with the urgency it demands and this is unlikely to change without significant public pressure. This bill will stifle this very necessary protest.’

‘Without the right to protest, the government destruction continues and we are doomed. The poor and the marginalised, those lower and middle class families who will be most affected.’

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‘I am worried about more freedoms given to the police and how they implement these against people already disproportionately affected by police injustice and brutality.’

‘U.K. government is employing increasingly fascist methods in an attempt to combat the pushback against a damaging status quo, particularly by those concerned with environmental and social justice. I am terrified by the potential implications of removing our democratic right to protest against these injustices, meaning the government will have no opposition against the harm they can do to the most vulnerable in society.’

‘When unacceptable things happen, people rise up to protest about them and demand change. Breaching this human right will mean that there will be no way to protect other human rights that face threat.’

12/05/2021

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