THE right to peaceful, respectful protest should be defended.
No matter what the protest, or who is behind the action. Even if the subject of a protest is something that we find abhorrent or disgusting, we must stand up for the right for that protest to go ahead.
Whether it is the Scottish Resistance protesting outside the Tunnocks factory, as it will be on Thursday, the people protesting outside the Court of Session today over schools and land in St Andrews, or football fans protesting against the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, we should reject any encroachment on the act of protest.
The news that Police Scotland are allegedly harassing peace campaigners who followed a nuclear bomb convoy by road around Glasgow and Stirling on Saturday afternoon should give concern to those who value that right of protest.
2016 will bring with it plenty more protests. Let us hope that they are not hindered.
Police accused of harassing peace campaigners following nuclear bomb convoy
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