From The Guardian

Met deputy too busy for questions on spy officer's relationship with woman

The Guardian | Protest -

Stephen House is key witness in claim from Kate Wilson, who was deceived into relationship with undercover officer

Scotland Yard has suggested its deputy commissioner is too busy to be cross-examined in a legal case about an undercover officer who deceived a woman into a long-term sexual relationship.

Sir Stephen House is a key witness in the legal claim being brought against the Metropolitan police by Kate Wilson, an environmental and social justice activist who was deceived into a two-year intimate relationship by undercover officer Mark Kennedy.

Related: I was abused by an undercover officer. But how far up did the deceit go? | Kate Wilson

Continue reading...

Project Vigilant: what are the measures Boris Johnson announced?

The Guardian | Protest -

Patrols of bars and nightclubs by plainclothes officers are to be rolled out with the aim of protecting women

Plainclothes police officers could patrol bars and nightclubs around the country as part of plans to protect women from “predatory” offenders.

Following a meeting of the government’s Crime and Justice Taskforce chaired by the prime minister, Downing Street said it was taking a series of “immediate steps” to improve security.

Related: Priti Patel spoke to Met chief before Sarah Everard vigil broken up

Continue reading...

Police were told people could lay flowers at Sarah Everard vigil, says Priti Patel – video

The Guardian | Protest -

Priti Patel had ‘extensive discussions’ with the head of the Metropolitan police in which she said allowing local residents to lay flowers was ‘absolutely the right thing to do’, the home secretary told the House of Commons. Officers broke up the peaceful vigil for Sarah Everard at the weekend, arresting some attendees for breaking Covid rules.

Continue reading...

Priti Patel spoke to Met chief before Sarah Everard vigil broken up

The Guardian | Protest -

Home secretary says vigil was ‘hijacked’ by protesters and undermining police would fail victims

Priti Patel has told the Commons she had had “extensive discussions” with the head of the Metropolitan police before officers broke up a peaceful vigil for Sarah Everard at the weekend, saying that people should be allowed to lay flowers.

But, in her first criticism of the gathering, the home secretary claimed the vigil had been “hijacked” by protesters and said undermining faith in the police would ultimately fail victims.

Continue reading...

Rights and wrongs of protest in a pandemic | Letters

The Guardian | Protest -

Readers respond to the police crackdown during the vigil on Clapham Common which followed the death of Sarah Everard

With regard to your coverage of the vigil for Sarah Everard in Clapham Common on Saturday, it seems that the morality of the gathering is being used as a justification for the breaking of lockdown rules, and for the consequent potential for coronavirus to spread (Cressida Dick refuses to quit over vigil policing and dismisses ‘armchair critics’, 15 March).

There can be no argument against the validity of the reasons for the protest, but in itself that’s not a justification for the form it took. A picture of a woman being arrested has been widely circulated and discussed, whereas the significance of almost every other picture of the protest, which show people crowded together, against the rules, seems to be largely ignored.

Continue reading...

Why is anti-protest bill generating so much controversy?

The Guardian | Protest -

Critics say handing police and home secretary more discretionary powers will undermine civil liberties

The police, crime, sentencing and courts bill has come under scrutiny in the wake of the handling of the Sarah Everard vigils. What are the bill’s provisions and why is it generating so much controversy?

Related: After the Sarah Everard vigil scandal, who still thinks the police need extra powers? | Shami Chakrabarti

Continue reading...

Myanmar: five more people killed as security forces fire on protesters

The Guardian | Protest -

Killings come a day after dozens of protesters were shot dead on deadliest day since 1 February coup

Security forces in Myanmar have fired on pro-democracy demonstrators, killing five people, media and witnesses said, a day after dozens of protesters were shot dead and attackers torched several Chinese-financed factories in the city of Yangon.

Supporters of the detained democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, marched again, including in the second city of Mandalay and the western town of Hakha, where the rallies were relatively peaceful, and in the central towns of Myingyan and Aunglan, where police opened fire, witnesses and media reported.

Related: Myanmar’s ‘darkest moment’: death toll rises sharply as junta's crackdown continues

Related: A child screams in Myanmar … and China pretends not to hear

Continue reading...

Sarah Everard vigil organiser says Met chief should not resign

The Guardian | Protest -

Campaign group member is joined by policing minister in rejecting calls for Cressida Dick to stand down

One of the organisers of a vigil for Sarah Everard has said Cressida Dick should not resign, as the policing minister also rejected calls for the Met police commissioner to stand down, despite public anger at officers’ conduct on Saturday.

Dick’s position seemed to be in jeopardy after she was was publicly rebuked by the home secretary, Priti Patel, and the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for providing an unsatisfactory explanation of why police broke up Saturday’s vigil for Everard in Clapham Common, London.

Continue reading...

Brittany Higgins addresses March 4 Justice rally as women demand action across Australia

The Guardian | Protest -

Former Liberal staffer and Grace Tame among those to address tens of thousands of protesters calling for an end to gender-based violence

Brittany Higgins’ voice shook as she addressed the crowd outside Parliament House in Canberra.

She had decided at the last minute to speak to more than a thousand people, mainly women, holding signs calling for justice for women, for sexual assault survivors and for Higgins herself, who has alleged she was raped by a colleague inside Parliament House.

Related: 'Enough is enough': March 4 Justice rallies – in pictures

Continue reading...

Women's March 4 Justice live: protests in Melbourne, Sydney, at Parliament House and across Australia

The Guardian | Protest -

More than 100,000 women are expected to march in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to demand action in response to allegations of workplace abuse. Follow latest updates

1.26am GMT

I’m hearing from Calla Wahlquist that the crowd size in Melbourne is between 5000 and 10,000 already.

There are so many people there that plenty are having trouble with phone signal and the internet. Thousands all trying to post at once.

#March4JusticeMelbourne pic.twitter.com/Xf0uTGDwkH

1.24am GMT

The rest of Australia, don’t think we have forgotten about you.

Here is Adelaide:

Holy crap. This is massive! Well done Radelaide. @march4justiceau @womensmarchaus #March4Justiceau pic.twitter.com/gTY6ae5JYG

#march4justice #newcastle@march4justiceau⁩ ⁦@womensmarchauspic.twitter.com/LW8ADHfDHO

#WomensMarch4Justice #women #WomensRightsAreHumanRights @womensmarchaus @march4justiceau Hobart Rally ... Many gathering here today to stand united for justice and change. Thousands here already.. We are the change! pic.twitter.com/AtGH1xxnX9

Images from Albury’s #March4Justice which heard from city’s deputy mayor @DrAmandaCohn and a survivor of trauma who said women had enough and wanted change. pic.twitter.com/YAc6bPB0Sj

1.20am GMT

In Melbourne currently:

There are still people streaming into Treasury Gardens for Melbourne’s #March4Justice. Unofficial crowd estimate is 10,000. @10NewsFirstMelb pic.twitter.com/HBOLu43APe

Melbourne #March4Justice pic.twitter.com/AKB1CPw01Z

1.17am GMT

High profile politicians have walked out of Parliament House, led by Penny Wong, Tanya Plibersek and Anthony Albanese and trailed by other staffers.

This came as Julie Zemiro kicked off proceedings in Canberra:

Women need to be heard, they need to be believed and they need to be safe everywhere.

Federation mall, the long stretch of grass in front of parliament, is now pretty much full. Crowds now listening to speakers and the welcome to Ngunnawal country. So many here that the women at the back can't hear the speakers. #March4Justice @MatildaBoseley pic.twitter.com/4FbYNe4TLI

1.16am GMT

A big turn out in the regional city of Ballarat in Victoria as well.

Crowds gathering at #March4Justice Ballarat. pic.twitter.com/6cSXEiekjo

1.14am GMT

Some big names rocking up at the Syndey protests!

Australian gem Sam Neill is there. (Yes I know he is from NZ but I’m claiming him for today).

Look who turned up at #March4Justice in Sydney @TwoPaddocks pic.twitter.com/KdANXraWdF

1.11am GMT

.@Craig_Foster is here at the Sydney #March4Justice. He tells me: “It’s long overdue. I’m sure the majority of men support this movement of gender equality, and that is not being reflected at the representative level, especially in parliament. I’m inspired being here today” pic.twitter.com/lH38lvDE2Y

1.11am GMT

Former Lord Mayor of Sydney Lucy Turnbull is attending the protest in Sydney.

@LucyTurnbull_AO is at the Sydney #March4Justice protest @MatildaBoseley @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/WggKieMY4L

1.05am GMT

Many women have travelled from interstate to attend the Canberra rally.

Among them are staff with the Australian Council of Social Service, who arrived from Sydney this morning.

The reality is that these issues, sexual assault, gender-based violence, are pervasive across the community. Women have known that forever. And every time we see another example of where action is not taken, and people are not held to account, what does it say?

Acoss chief executive Cassandra Goldie is in the crowd at the #March4JusticeCanberra rally. Her placard simply says "unstoppable". "The reality is that these issues, sexual assault, gender-based violence, are pervasive across the community. Women have known that forever." pic.twitter.com/jaTPj7Is84

1.02am GMT

The protest seems to be kicking off in Melbourne as well:

#march4justice thread in Melbourne.

This is a list of names of all the women in Australia killed from gendered violence since 2008. pic.twitter.com/CgcJcqsB8t

Things are getting started in Melbourne/Naarm #March4Justice #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/KhTkhrYtIV

1.00am GMT

Senior Labor politicians have emerged from the parliament house in Canberra.

Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong and Tanya Plibersek leading the small crowd.

squad is here #March4Justice Canberra pic.twitter.com/OyuaAxlu20

12.53am GMT

Early contenders for best signs in Canberra are Felicity from Bilpin and Kylie from Western Sydney.

Felicity says:

We are here because we are sick of violence against women and we are sick of our leaders not listening to women. 51% of the population are women but only 38% in parliament. We need more representation.

A member of my family was murdered by her partner three years ago - and nothing has changed.

Vulva la Resistance at #March4Justice Canberra pic.twitter.com/tXGR3lyWxL

12.49am GMT

About ten minutes out now from some most of the major protests starting.

20 mins before the Sydney #March4Justice is due to start and the crowd is starting to fill out both sides of Town Hall pic.twitter.com/GRBIarg6W1

12.47am GMT

Our picture editor Carly Earl is out on the streets in Syndey asking people why they are marching today.

I am at the Sydney #MarchForJustice protest asking people why are you marching? @MatildaBoseley @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/9S7dAu2K4k

12.44am GMT

Huge crowds have already gathered outside parliament house in Canberra.

Reporter Christopher Knaus is there to bring us updates:

Huge crowds are streaming into the #March4Justice rally at Parliament House. Hundreds already here, at least. Many more on the way. "Why are women not safe in the most secure building in Australia?", asks one sign. @MatildaBoseley pic.twitter.com/FXPgXZf5ki

12.41am GMT

Some popular phrases on today’s placards include “Not Happy Jen,” and “Jen we need to talk”.

For those that are confused this is a reference to the prime minister, Scott Morrison’s now-infamous comments after former Liberal staffer Brittany’s Higgins went public with the allegation that she was raped by another staffer in the ministerial offices of Linda Reynolds.

Jenny and I spoke last night, and she said to me, ‘You have to think about this as a father first. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?’ – Jenny has a way of clarifying things, always has.

I asked Sally McLean and Cathy Walker why they came today.

Cathy: “Why wouldn’t we? We have all been harmed by poor government policy.”

Sally: “And not just government policy, it’s across the board. Enough.”#March4Justice @MatildaBoseley pic.twitter.com/jrhzx2hN9r

the signs are gathering in Canberra #March4Justice (one of these is my mum) pic.twitter.com/kwjU7KthA8

12.25am GMT

We are about 40 minutes away from three of the major protests starting (Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne) and there are plenty of posts on social media describing trams, trains and buses full of protesters making their way there.

Looks like it’s going to be a big one:

There are now seven of us, all unknown to each other, but all making ourselves known to each other#March4Justice #EnoughIsEnough #auspol pic.twitter.com/8xtYCrvH2c

Bus filled with women in black. #march4justice pic.twitter.com/9pj3UThQwD

The Nambour to Brisbane train is quite full. Lots of black!

Heading into Melbourne now, with a train load of women in black

12.13am GMT

Reporter Calla Wahlquist is at the Melbourne protest bringing us updates.

Kara is waiting to go up the Melbourne #March4Justice with her cousin and her aunt. “So many people that I have never seen go to a rally before are going to this”. @MatildaBoseley pic.twitter.com/ozNZ5aoiXP

I’ll be at the Melbourne #March4Justice reporting for @GuardianAus, just in case that wasn’t obvious. I’m the one in the floral mask and the constantly fogging glasses. Come and say hi. pic.twitter.com/lbkUtSIrHv

12.10am GMT

A movement has started for those unable to attend the protest in person as well, with people wearing black today in solidarity with those marching.

I can't #March4Justice today so I'm wearing black instead. Will be thinking of all women today #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/9TmamhEUqR

12.08am GMT

People of all ages have been turning out for these protests. Here is someone from yesterday’s event in Perth.

86 years old and still fighting #March4Justice #MarchForJustice #WomensMarch #inspirational pic.twitter.com/7Vp1IOpxUX

11.58pm GMT

Victoria’s surf coast is getting involved this morning, here is the display from Torquay:

#SurfCoast Women's March on the beach at Torquay nice and early! @womensmarchaus
Standing up for women's rights at the base of the letter C!
Photo: Rebecca Hosking pic.twitter.com/rraeMI8spn

11.56pm GMT

Earlier this morning protest organiser Janine Hendry ran into Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in the halls of Parliament and spoke to him about the Australian Human Rights Commission’s national inquiry into sexual harassment in workplaces.

Hendry:

The Australian Human Rights Commission report landed on the Attorney General’s desk over 12 months ago and we have not seen any implementation of the recommendations that were in that report, and it was pretty scathing. It was pretty scathing. So, when you told me that you are willing to look at it, I am going to tell you “I want some action” and the women of Australia want some action. We are drawing a line in the sand right here, right now.

OK. All right.

Can you give me that assurance?

We will certainly look at it. I cannot give you the assurance.

I am not interested in looking at it. You have been looking at this for years. It is time now. We want to change now. You have had that report for 14 months.

So who is actually going to #March4Justiceau ??‍♀️ I've clipped up a few answers from this morning ... #auspol @10NewsFirst pic.twitter.com/LrfUKltxk0

11.42pm GMT

Good morning, everyone, Matilda Boseley here to cover all the March4Justice protests going on around the country today.

Every major city is holding an event (Perth had their’s yesterday), with hundreds of regions cities and towns joining in as well. The main event will, of course, be outside Parliament House where we are expecting to see protestors and politicians interacting, and the crowd delivering a petition to the government.

We will not be meeting behind closed doors.

We have already come to the front door, now it’s up to the Government to cross the threshold and come to us. We will not be meeting behind closed doors.

Here are the details of some of the major #March4Justice events today, via @antissa You can follow along with updates from across the country on the @GuardianAus Australia live blog. pic.twitter.com/vE2dKHsSD4

Continue reading...

New anti-protest bill raises profound concern and alarm, human rights groups say

The Guardian | Protest -

Exclusive: ‘draconian’ 307-page police, crime and sentencing bill is being rushed through, charities, unions and faith communities say

More than 150 organisations have warned ministers that a new law handing police tougher powers to crack down on protesters would be “an attack on some of the most fundamental rights of citizens” as Labour vowed to oppose it and officers’ handling of a vigil for Sarah Everard continued to draw criticism.

The groups, including human rights charities, unions and faith communities, said on Sunday the wide-ranging legislation would have a hugely detrimental effect on civil liberties, and called for the government to “fundamentally rethink its approach”.

Related: Woman pinned to ground at Clapham vigil says policing was 'disgraceful'

Continue reading...

Parliament Square crowd protests against policing of vigil for Sarah Everard – video

The Guardian | Protest -

Hundreds of people have marched from New Scotland Yard to Parliament Square, defying lockdown rules, to protest against the police's handling of the Sarah Everard vigil in Clapham on Saturday. People are seen chanting and marching through central London before gathering outside the Commons. The Met commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, has said she will not quit, despite the home secretary and mayor of London expressing dissatisfaction at her justification for policing at the vigil

Continue reading...

Parliament Square crowd protests against policing of Sarah Everard vigil

The Guardian | Protest -

Officers take a hands-off approach to event on Sunday called in response to tactics used the previous day

More than a thousand people streamed into Parliament Square in London on Sunday evening to make their voices heard outside the seat of government following clashes at a vigil for Sarah Everard, with police this time taking a hands-off approach.

Calling for the resignation of the Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, and the scrapping of the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill, the crowd initially congregated around the statue of the suffragist Millicent Fawcett.

Continue reading...

Has the pandemic led to a long-term erosion of the right to dissent?

The Guardian | Protest -

Analysis: the police’s handling of the Sarah Everard vigil raises questions over whether authorities are going too far

Defending the Metropolitan police’s handling of Saturday night’s Sarah Everard vigil, assistant commissioner Helen Ball argued the force had to act “because of the overriding need to protect people’s safety” from the threat of coronavirus. Yet last year’s Black Lives Matter protests in some 300 US cities did not cause a spike in cases there, a July report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found. The outdoor air played a part in dispelling the virus and, in cities with big rallies, infections even fell because those who did not take part stayed home instead of shopping or eating out – activities that carry a greater risk.

While not an exact parallel with the Clapham Common event, it suggests even huge and noisy protests, where thousands of people are shouting and chanting, are not necessarily cauldrons for infection. And they can be done safely, according to the human rights organisation Liberty. For example a socially distanced rally was held in Tel Aviv in April last year against the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with thousands of people shouting and waving banners each in their own space, two metres apart.

Continue reading...

Harassment and harm should not be a daily reality for women | Letters

The Guardian | Protest -

Readers respond to a piece by Marina Hyde in which she described being harassed and abused on her way to picking her son up from school

What a fantastic piece of writing by Marina Hyde (What happened to me was nothing – the nothing women know all too well, 12 March). I could feel her stress, her worry for her safety and that of her son, her desire to be rid of this obnoxious man, the fact that she was on her own and no one was coming to her aid. It’s been playing out over and over in my head since reading it. What makes her assailant think that he has the right to treat her, or indeed anybody, in this manner? What makes him think that he will get away with it in a public place, and why was no one willing to intervene and say stop?

Given the ongoing issues surrounding women’s safety, one wonders if we are heading into a time when people like this man will feel free to be even more extreme in their attacks and expect no consequences for their actions. I dread to think what might have happened if this had been a night-time encounter.
Gerry Shinners
Mountmellick, County Laois, Ireland

Continue reading...

'Police are trying to silence us': officers clash with mourners at Sarah Everard vigil – video

The Guardian | Protest -

The evening began in grief and silence, as hundreds gathered in south London to remember Sarah Everard and call for changes to keep women safe. 

The vigil ended in anger and violence, as police trampled flowers and candles laid out in tribute to Everard and tried to silence women speaking out in her memory

Continue reading...

Woman pinned to ground at Clapham vigil says policing was 'disgraceful'

The Guardian | Protest -

Image of Patsy Stevenson’s arrest at Sarah Everard vigil has been shared thousands of times on social media

One image has come to symbolise the horrifying turn of events at the vigil on Clapham Common on Saturday in memory of Sarah Everard: a young woman pinned to the floor by two male police officers, hands held behind her back, eyes wide in defiance.

Patsy Stevenson, whose photo was shared thousands of times on social media and on newspaper front pages, has said she would like to “have a conversation” with the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, and called for a protest on Monday in Parliament Square.

Continue reading...

Myanmar: acting civilian leader says 'we must win' as five more protesters die

The Guardian | Protest -

Mahn Win Khaing Than, speaking from hiding, says ‘this is the darkest moment of the nation’

The acting leader of Myanmar’s parallel civilian government has said the people “must win the uprising” against the junta as security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Yangon and at least five people were killed as protests continued for a sixth week.

Mahn Win Khaing Than, who is in hiding along with most senior officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which was ousted in the 1 February coup, addressed the public via Facebook, saying: “This is the darkest moment of the nation and the moment that the dawn is close. The federal democracy union … is waiting for us in the near future if we move forward unitedly with invincibility,” he said, adding: “We must win the uprising.”

Related: Myanmar's junta – caught out by passion of protests – unleashes terror

Continue reading...

Pages