Democracy and the Right to Protest in the UK

Throughout history, protests have been a key tactic for activists and movements to express discontent and push for change.

Today, however, the democratic space for protests and collective mobilisation is rapidly shrinking. From more forceful and frequent crackdowns on protesting to introducing new legislation to restrict protest and prosecute individuals, governments across the world, including the UK, are increasingly finding new ways to suppress protest and silence critical voices.

This panel will discuss why protests matter, what the shrinking of democratic space means for social movements and activists, and what can be done to protect freedom of speech and the right to protest.

The event will be followed by a reception with drinks and canapés.

Meet our speakers and chair

Pascale Frazer-Carroll is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity and a campaigner and social impact director. Most recently she has held positions as the UK Director and Regional Director for the UK & Australia at the petition platform Change.org, which is the largest website for social change in the world. In these roles, she has led teams to support millions of people to use digital mobilising tools to increase their ability to speak out against injustices and run people-powered campaigns.

Richard Martin is Assistant Professor of Law at the LSE Law School. He conducts socio-legal and doctrinal research at the intersection of criminal justice, human rights and public law. Richard’s monograph, Policing Human Rights (OUP, 2021) was joint runner up of the Inner Temple Book Prize – New Author’s Prize, and shortlisted for the Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship and the Hart-SLSA Book Prize for Early Career Academics.

Sam Nadel is a PhD candidate at the Department of Social Policy at LSE. He is also a Director of the Social Change Lab, which focuses on studying the impact of protest movements on public opinion, public discourse, and policy. Sam has held a range of roles with human rights and international development organisations including Amnesty International UK and Oxfam Great Britain.

George Kunnath is Associate Professor (Education) and Lifelong Engagement Lead for the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) programme at the International Inequalities Institute (III). He is a core team member of the Politics of Inequality Research programme at III. His research examines the relationality of inequality, conflict and peace-building in the Global South, particularly focusing on the intersectionality of race, caste, class, gender and ethnicity.

This event will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.