Right to protest

"It is in your hands to create a better world for all those who live in it."

- Nelson Mandela

History has shown us that protest is powerful. From the end of apartheid in South Africa to the protection the Franklin river, when passionate and courageous people raise their voice, they make the world a better place.

Mardi Gras 1978

Sydney’s Gay Solidarity Group organised a march to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York in 1978. Police violently cracked down on the march and arrested 53 of the courageous protesters.

The march started a movement for equality for LGBTQI+ Australians, one that would lead to the decriminalisation of homosexuality and marriage equality.

The March on Washington

In 1963, to mark one hundred years since emancipation, over 250,000 Americans marched on Washington to raise awareness of the continuing discrimination and inequalities faced by African Americans.

“Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.”

Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

In 2020, Black Americans are continuing the fight for racial equality and calling for an end to police violence, while being met with the very same violence they are protesting against.

The Wave Hill walk-off

The Wave Hill walk-off

In 1966 Gurindji stockmen walked off the Wave Hill pastoral station to demand better working conditions. Led by Vincent Lingiari, the walk off also inspired the Aboriginal land rights movement.

In 1976, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam returned over 3,000 square kilometres of land to the Gurindji people – the first time the Commonwealth returned land to an Aboriginal community.

The 8 hour day

In 1856 Melbourne stonemasons walked off the job in protest. This protest ended in an agreement for stonemasons to work no more than eight-hours each day – it also kick started the eight-hour day movement.

In 1948 that the Commonwealth approved a 40-hour, five-day working week.

These are just of few examples of the power of people banding together to make the world a better place. There are countless others. But right now, our right to join our voices and challenge injustice is under threat. 

We need to protect the right to protest so we can continue to create change and make the world fair, free, and just.

We can’t afford to be silenced now. Protest is the most powerful tool we have to protect our rights and our future. To make a difference we need to protect the right to protest.

To ensure the right to protest is protected we will;

• Pressure Australian governments to repeal anti-protest laws, so that Australian laws respect the right to protests, 
• Advocate for laws that protect peaceful protest – including a federal Human Rights Act, 
• Protect people exercising their rights, making sure police behaviour is proportionate and peaceful protest is safe for people to attend, 
• Challenge harmful anti-protest rhetoric in the media, and
• Pressure governments around the world end the growing crackdown on peaceful protests, and ensure activists and human rights defenders can continue to safely campaign to make the world a better place.