Know Your Rights Training : a national online event which promotes safety and education while protesting

On Monday the 25th March I attended a webinar about knowing your rights when protesting which was provided by Green and Black Cross, a volunteer led organisation which provides help with issues arising from protest and political action. The organisation was held remotely and accessible for anyone in the UK. 

The organisation itself was founded in 2010 in light of anti-cuts protests and remains relevant and helpful today in light of protests for Palestine. 

The webinar was led by two key speakers, Becket and Fleck, who are both trainers and advocates for GBC. They said that this event was hosted in hopes of “keeping yourself safer”. The advice was compiled by experienced protesters and included anecdotes from their own past.

I was very impressed with the range of topics that they covered in just two hours which included: police powers and tactics, common offences, the law surrounding protest organisation and execution and a lot more general advice. 

This was my setup, from the comfort of my uni accommodation which shows just how easily accessible this event was.

The advice ranges from how to safely protest, how to organise a demonstration that is legally safe and what to do if you are arrested while protesting. 

Sofia, a regular protester, says that she joined this event because she is “a future solicitor and hoping to volunteer as a legal observer.” 

To me, this event is so important especially with the amount of demonstrations for Palestine that have taken place all over the UK in the last couple of months. According to the Guardian, 36 people had been arrested at pro-Palestine marches last year. This just goes to show how relevant and necessary this event and organisation is for helping people to safely protest for social change that they want to see. 

The GBC website has a list of 5 key messages which I have summarised above.

Check the GBC website for future events like this so that you can stay safe while protesting and know your rights.