‘Kill the Bill’: Britain’s fight for the right to protest

Demonstrators holding a banner march leaving Hyde Park during a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London, Saturday, April 3, 2021. The demonstration is against the contentious Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, 2021 which is currently going through Parliament and would give police stronger powers to restrict “highly disruptive protests” causing “serious disruption to the public.”. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The provisions of the bill will allow the police to impose more restrictions and conditions such as maximum noise levels, start and finish time, during protests. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Saturday's "Kill the Bill" protest is organised as part of a “national weekend of action” with the support of activists, climate change campaigners, and the Black Lives Matter movement. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The contentious bill was brought to parliament last month, and since then there have been reports of protest in various parts of the nation. In Bristol and southwest England, the protest also turned violent. The move to introduce the new bill came after the government said the current legislation is not enough to control protests of the present time. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

The demonstration was not permitted due to the Covid-19 lockdown. But as the restrictions were eased this week, organised rallies are allowed provided they are "covid secure." (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

A man tries to rip a banner held by demonstrators blocking traffic during the protest in London. The banner read Protect The Right To Protest. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)