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lawofprotest.bsky.social

@lawofprotest.bsky.social
219 followers 545 following 25 posts

Legal adviser @Amnesty (right to protest & civic space); @OSCE_ODIHR Panel on Freedom of Assembly & Association

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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
An appeal to the Court of Appeal is scheduled for Friday, arguing that the #ParadesCommission "materially misdirected itself" on the police assessment of potential disorder and did not given an "accurate representation of the evidence received from the PSNI" in its determination.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Here's the link to Sunday's High Court judgment refusing the application by Breandán MacCionnaith of the #Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition for leave to apply for Judicial Review: www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judici...
judiciaryni.uk
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Yes, the European Court of Human Rights has said that the right to counter-demonstrate doesn't extend to inhibiting the right to demonstrate. But the court also emphasizes that preponderant weight should not be attached to the formal unlawfulness of an event.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Amid all the talk of lawfulness, unlawfulness and the rule of law, it's important to remember that it's peaceful assembly that is protected by human rights law - not merely lawful assembly. #ParadesCommission #Garvaghy #Drumcree #PSNI
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I don't want to just dunk on Bryant, who is new in post, but successive UK Govts have been profoundly complacent about the stability of NI even after several summers of rioting. That the Secretary of State is only coming to NI now is jaw dropping.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Complacency is an understatement
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
But this situation also reflects wider leadership failures - of politicians in NI to confront sectarianism, of the Parades Commission to explore what a rights-based approach really entails, and of the government's defunding of the Parades Commission and its mediation capacity.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Parades Commission & the PSNI both have serious questions to answer in relation to the changed assessment (on which the determination appears to have been based). And presumably there could yet be a further challenge in the Court of Appeal.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It raises serious questions for the Parades Commission (or now, I'm guessing, its successor) about the weight placed on police evidence.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Parades Commission, set up to shield PSNI from contentious parades - and to avoid decisions being based primarily on public order grounds, but rather on human rights - relied on the police assessment, and handed parading right back to the police ... to make a decision on public order grounds.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is a disaster for Northern Ireland. All the bitterness is back. And for a new generation. #Drumcree #Garvaghy #ParadesCommission #Policing
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sir John O’Hara KC appointed to lead the review of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission's decision-making processes and its approach to promoting and facilitating mediation www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Sir John O’Hara KC to lead Parades Commission Review
Secretary of State confirms Judge appointment to lead independent review of the Parades Commission
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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 08/09/2026
The military wanted a version of OpenAI's models that would not refuse directives from military officials, a metric called the "minimal refusal rates." This kind of stuff is extremely dangerous. theintercept.com/2026/09/08/p... archive.ph/iKdbn
theintercept.com
The Pentagon Asked OpenAI for Artificial Intelligence Designed to Rarely Say No
The U.S. military’s desire for an AI tool with “minimal refusal rates” was revealed through a FOIA lawsuit filed by The Intercept.
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The Breach @breachmedia.ca · 30/07/2026
A new investigation by @drugdatadecoded.ca and David Slater reveals how universities in Canada coordinated to spy on and violently remove their students’ anti-genocide encampments. Then, they denied the existence of records, delayed their release, and deleted chats. breachmedia.ca/canadian-uni...
breachmedia.ca
Canadian universities set up a secret network to crack down on student Palestine demonstrators ⋆ The Breach
Universities in Canada coordinated to spy on and violently clear student encampments. Then, they deleted the evidence
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Such devastating news about Glen Hansard. Rest in Peace. Here's 'Santa Maria' from the ever brilliant album, 'For the Birds' youtu.be/SfF5eCtUv2U?...
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists over bank damage www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
theguardian.com
Palestine Action activists face being sentenced as terrorists over bank damage
Exclusive: Judge intends to consider ‘terrorist connection’ after convicting five for damage to Barclays in Burnley
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David Greene @davidgreene.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Barriers will absolutely change that. Barriers are purposefully intended to change that.
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
A collective UEA #protest effort from @crwerren.bsky.social @storiesfromjack.bsky.social @suzmd.bsky.social & me: our evidence* to the current JCHR Inquiry "Security, safety & protest: the role of Human Rights" has just been made public... committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide... * it's not short
committees.parliament.uk
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Garden Court North Chambers @gcnchambers.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Next Wednesday, Garden Court Chambers, Garden Court North Chambers, One Pump Court Chambers & Nexus Chambers will come together to co-host: 'Descent Into Authoritarianism? Undermining the Role of Defence Lawyers: The Rajiv Menon KC Case'. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Graeme Hayes @graemehayes.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Supreme Court judgment in the Animal Rising Müller 6 case. SC finds with the appellants: there is no case to answer. You can't commit public nuisance on private land, under the second limb of s78 of the PCSC 2022 (the one that applies to protest), because there is no public *right* of passage 1/3
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David Mead @seethingmead.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Very nice to have one's long held academic views vindicated by the UKSC this morning, in McCafferty, on whether public nuisance under s78 PCSCA 2022 can be committed on private ways (not public highways) - answer: no
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Szabolcs Panyi @szabolcspanyi.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
"I do not believe Vučić will concede power peacefully, the way Viktor Orbán did after losing the election in Hungary." As Serbia heads toward elections, attacks on civil society reveal a darker pattern: Moscow and Belgrade often chase the same enemies.
vsquare.org
"Hybrid War Over Our Own Democracy and Sovereignty": How Vučić and Putin Targets Serbia's Civil Society - VSquare.org
A Russian cyberespionage operation spent a month inside a Belgrade think tank's inboxes, reading 28,000 emails after posing as a Belarusian dissident to get in. Tied to the SVR and GRU, the hackers weren't just after documents — they walked away with a blueprint of relationships and vulnerabilities that AI can weaponize. As Serbia heads toward elections, the attack reveals a darker pattern: Moscow and Belgrade often chase the same enemies.
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Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 17/06/2026
Hungarian academic freedom has been systematically curtailed under Orbán, culminating even in the relocation of the CEU to Austria. RENÁTA UITZ explores how academic freedom is being reshaped today – and how it must be revisited. verfassungsblog.de/restoring-ac...
The thorniest issues are funding and control over the governance of knowledge.
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Daniella Lock @daniellalock.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Here are some thoughts on the new Court of Appeal Palestine Action ruling, written with @alangreene.bsky.social and @colinmurray.bsky.social for @verfassungsblog.de verfassungsblog.de/palestine-ac...
Quote from the blog: 'The Court creates an impression of judicial scrutiny, but one so lacking in substance as to embolden even far more reaching uses of executive powers in the future'
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thedetailtv.bsky.social @thedetailtv.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
As racist attacks spread across Belfast, volunteers and neighbours stepped in to get families to safety, filling a vacuum left by state institutions, writes Chloë Trew (@ppr-org.bsky.social)
thedetail.tv
Comment: When Belfast burned, it was ordinary people who came to the rescue
Volunteers and neighbours stepped in to get families to safety
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Dr Fern Riddell @drfernriddell.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
But that is exactly how the suffragettes operated. With a nationwide organisation of sleeper cells of arsonists and bombers. I’m gratefully people have reached out and referenced my work today. I remain (I believe) the only academic expert on the terrorism of the suffragettes. Links below:
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
"As efforts to control the suffragettes increased, however, with measures including the formation (in 1909) of a dedicated section of Special Branch, the police’s undercover anti-extremism unit, the suffragettes became increasingly covert (Raeburn, 1973; Rosen, 1974) ..."
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Also: N. Crossley, G. Edwards, E. Harries & R. Stevenson, "Covert social movement networks and the secrecy-efficiency trade off: The case of the UK suffragettes (1906–1914)" 34(4) Social Networks (2012) 634 (citing Antonia Raeburn's "The Militant Suffragettes") pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/files/295...
pure.manchester.ac.uk
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Were the suffragettes terrorists? The Court of Appeal rejects an inconvenient analogy medium.com/@evansd66/we...
medium.com
Were the suffragettes terrorists?
The Court of Appeal rejects an inconvenient analogy
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
In case we had any doubt
lemonde.fr
Elon Musk's role was 'instrumental' in the Belfast riots, researchers say
The newly crowned world's first trillionaire is once again facing criticism over the violent narratives he amplified on his platform X.
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Belfast - united against racism.
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Robert Reiner @waylon18.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... A sad day for British justice. Coming down like a ton of bricks on people with a social conscience. Meanwhile those who incite and commit acts of terror against innocent immigrants must be ‘understood’
theguardian.com
Pro-Palestine activists sentenced as terrorists over damage at Israeli arms factory in UK
Four found guilty will face tougher conditions as judge says actions were ‘designed to intimidate the UK government and a section of the public’
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ACLU @aclu.org · 11/06/2026
The First Amendment protects our right to record public law enforcement activity, but protestors and observers have faced violence and retaliation for exercising their rights. Demand that congress pass a bill to defend our right to record.
action.aclu.org
Protect The Right to Record
The public has a constitutional right to know what our own government is up to. But right now, federal agents are harassing and intimidating people legally recording them in public. Congress must pass the Right to Record Act.
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Josh Halliday @joshhalliday.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
My colleague @hannahalothman.bsky.social is in Belfast tonight. This is what she’s seen. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
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Duncan Morrow @duncanmorrow0.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Saying violence is ‘wrong’ is too weak. What is wrong is targeting people for being black or a particular religion, destroying property and quality of life, controlling behaviour by coercive intimidation. All are on show in Belfast and all demand political, judicial and administrative intervention.
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Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
WE'RE HIRING 🚨 We're looking for a creative and strategic lawyer to join as our Legal Team Manager • Full time, 35 hours per week • £67,586 • Hybrid (2 days per week in our Westminster office) • Deadline to apply: 9am Mon 22 June Apply today: www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/work-…
libertyhumanrights.org.uk
Work with us - Liberty
Come and join our team
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lawofprotest.bsky.social @lawofprotest.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Tozickova v. Czech Republic: Journalist’s arrest during environmental protest prevented her from gathering and communicating information hudoc.echr.coe.int#{%22document...
share.google
HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights
The HUDOC database provides access to the case-law of the Court (Grand Chamber, Chamber and Committee judgments and decisions, communicated cases, advisory opinions and legal summaries from the Case-L...
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Omega Research Foundation @omegarf.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
📣 We join other members of the civil society #TortureFreeTrade Network in welcoming the publication by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Edwards, of her Recommendations for a Torture-Free Trade Treaty.
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Jon Penney @penney.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
@salon.com has picked up my essay (co-authored with Bruce Schneier) on the Trump's admin's weaponization of law, tech, and surveillance to chill protest and opposition. We link recent reporting on lack of student protests/activism to this broader Trump admin strategy. www.salon.com/2026/05/28/t...
salon.com
Trump’s war on free speech extends far beyond campus walls - Salon.com
The chilling effect of Trump's actions is felt well beyond the quad.
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AFL-CIO @aflcio.org · 22/05/2026
There is no right to organize and bargain collectively without the right to strike. As workers face sustained attacks, this opinion from the International Court of Justice reaffirms that the freedom to withhold one's labor is a fundamental human right.
apnews.com
United Nations' top court says right to strike is protected by a key labor treaty
The United Nations’ top court has issued a landmark advisory opinion that says the right to strike is protected by a cornerstone labor treaty.
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Commissioner for Human Rights @commissionerhr.coe.int · 22/05/2026
Read my statement after a visit to Serbia focused on freedom of expression, inc. media freedom, the right to peaceful assembly, and the protection of civic space. #HumanRights 👇 www.coe.int/en/web/commi...
coe.int
Serbia: Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights observes deteriorating human rights situation - Commissioner for Human Rights - www.coe.int
Strasbourg 22 May 2026
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ACLU of Washington @acluwa.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Seattleites and visitors have the right to protest, and they must be able to exercise that right peacefully and without interference from law enforcement.
aclu-wa.org
ACLU-WA sends letter to City of Seattle and SPD regarding planning for World Cup games - ACLU of Washington
We're asking the city and SPD to review its policies to ensure the rights of protesters and game attendees are protected.
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talia jane @taliajane.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
New York ACLU to rally soon ahead of lawsuit against Nassau’s buffer zone law Livestream here: m.youtube.com/live/bhOzBSv...
NASSAU COUNTY - TODAY at 12:00 p.m., the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic, Gender Equality New York, and other local advocates will rally ahead of oral arguments in Borecky v. Nassau County - NYCLU's lawsuit challenging Nassau County's unlawful no-speech buffer zone law, which broadly restricts First Amendment activity outside of all places of worship across the county. Oral arguments will begin immediately after the rally at 2:00 p.m., and are open to the public.WHERE: United States District Court, Eastern District of New York (located at 100 Federal Plaza, Central
Islip, NY 11722). There will also be a livestream of the event available here.
WHO:
• The New York Civil Liberties Union
• Claudia Borecky, a plaintiff in Borecky v. Nassau County.
• Planned Parenthood of Hudson Peconic
• Gender Equality New York
BACKGROUND: On April 7, 2026, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) filed a lawsuit against Nassau County, County Executive Bruce Blakeman, and the Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, challenging Nassau's law broadly restricting constitutionally-protected speech and protest outside places of worship. The lawsuit argues that the law violates the First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendments, and seeks to declare it unlawful and block its enforcement.
Across the state, laws prohibiting expressive activities outside of houses of worship, reproductive healthcare clinics, and educational facilities are gaining traction as a way to clamp down on speech and protest. Governor Hochul has made clear her intention of enacting a buffer zone bill in this year's budget cycle, and just a couple of months ago, the New York City Council voted for the NYPD to develop plans to establish security perimeters and restrict speech.
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NYCLU @nyclu.org · 21/05/2026
📍We're in Nassau County rallying ahead of oral arguments in our lawsuit against Nassau’s unlawful no-speech policy. As we said in court today: Nassau’s buffer law is unnecessary, stifles free speech, and violates Nassau County residents’ rights to engage in peaceful political protest.
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Hannah Krieg @hannahkrieg.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
NEW: Bellevue passed a law banning protest at houses. It won't stop anti-war advocates from coming to Rep. Adam Smith's house. www.theburnerseattle.com/post/bellevu...
theburnerseattle.com
Bellevue's New Free Speech Curtailing Law Won't Stop Anti-War Activists From Protesting At Rep. Adam Smith's House
Bellevue City Council members may think they helped out Rep. Adam Smith and his neighbors when they passed a law seemingly designed to shoo anti-war protesters from his home, but the blatant attack on...
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Liberty @libertyhq.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Today, we have published a new advice and information page that explores the different laws governing free speech in England and Wales, including what we can post on social media, and what we say and hold up signs about at protests. www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/frees…
libertyhumanrights.org.uk
Explainer: Can I be arrested for something I post on social media or chant at a protest? - Liberty
Do I have a right to free speech? What are the different laws that limit what we can say on social media and at protests? Can the police access my phone and social media account?
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Mark Elliott @profmarkelliott.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
The gutting of the principle of legality – part of a much wider trend of constitutional regression in the senior courts' case law – continues apace. www.judiciary.uk/judgments/sa...
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Jacobin @jacobinmag.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Abdallah A. lived in Germany since he was two months old and last year gained German citizenship. But now he’s been stripped of it because of pro-Palestinian Instagram posts, in a disturbing legal case that points to the rise of citizenship-on-probation.
jacobin.com
Abdallah A., a Nonperson Because of His Instagram Posts
Abdallah A. lived in Germany since he was two months old and last year gained German citizenship. But now he’s been stripped of it because of pro-Palestinian Instagram posts, in a disturbing legal case that points to the rise of citizenship-on-probation.
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Led By Donkeys @ledbydonkeys.org · 17/05/2026
Immigration make Britain brilliant
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