Protest Power: A Nationwide Ad Blitz for the Right to Speak Out
In a bold move that has already stirred up conversations across the city, Amnesty International UK, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Liberty have teamed up to launch a sweeping advertising campaign that champions the right to protest.
Picture This: Protesters on Digital Billboards
Think of a giant billboard flashing in the middle of the city, not with a brand name, but with real people holding signs that read:
- “I’m protesting in here to avoid arrest out there.”
These clips—real footage of people standing up on a huge digital canvas—are part of a three‑city rollout that includes a massive tower at Westfield, Stratford and larger-than-life screens in London, Birmingham and Manchester.
The Tech Behind the Sizzle
The image‑slinging magic comes from the creative agency elvis, who added special effects to make the protesters look like they’re marching outside the screens. Ocean Outdoor’s annual Digital Creative Competition offered these billboards for free, fueling the campaign’s reaching power.
Why This Matters
- Disability rights – Andy Greene of London underscores how disabled folks face isolation and silencing when the government won’t listen.
- Gaza – Conditions in the contested region fuel a global outcry.
- Climate change – The planet’s fate hangs in the balance.
- Anti‑Black racism – A call against systemic injustice.
- Plastic pollution – We’re choking on waste.
- Keep the NHS public – A plea to preserve the national health service.
Greenpeace’s Alarm Bells Ring High
Recent research by Greenpeace shows police authorities have been pretty dramatic, authoring over 600 arrests in London within the last six years for “conspiracy to cause a public nuisance”—a charge that rarely leads to actual prosecution.
- Only 18 of those 600 arrests (2.8%) resulted in charges.
- Between 2012 and 2018: 67 arrests, 8 charges.
- From 2019 onward: 638 arrests, 18 charges.
That’s almost a ten‑fold jump in arrests and a dramatic drop in the chance of facing a charge—from roughly 12% to below 3%! The surge coincided with major movements like Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future, which stoked the government’s anti‑protest clampdown.
A Call for Change
Greenpeace and the coalition are demanding the Home Secretary reverse the anti‑protest measures introduced since 2022, and strip protest‑related clauses from the Crime and Policing Bill that’s currently gathering momentum in Parliament.
“Arresting law‑abiding people because they’re politically inconvenient is a dark turn for any democracy,” says Areeba Hamid, co‑executive director, Greenpeace UK. “It’s a direct result of the government’s instinct to silence voices that matter.”
Get Involved
- Follow the campaign’s progress on social platforms.
- Sign up for real‑time updates via the app or subscribe to newsletters.
- Spread the word: the louder the collective voice, the stronger the impact.
These four powerful voices are reminding us that the right to protest is not just a legal right—it’s a moral one. Let’s keep the conversation alive, the streets safe, and the protests unshackled.
