Member

In my many years as an activist, I have protested on a variety of causes and used the right to protest extensively. I protested to end apartheid in South Africa, which took many years of protest to achieve. I protested against the blockade of Cuba by the US Government, and I have protested to reclaim the streets so that they are safe for women at night; neither of these goals has yet been achieved. I have also campaigned for Palestinian rights. On none of those occasions have I ever set out to intimidate individuals, whether accessing places of worship or in any other way. While accepting that non-violent direct action may sometimes be used, personally I believe in the force of argument rather than the argument of force. Many hundreds and thousands of protesters would say exactly the same.