It always amazed me that Assange’s loyal supporters would be out in force with their placards outside the High Court, hearing after hearing, during his lengthy battle to clear his name and fight the US extradition request.

Protestors outside court are, of course, nothing new. They draw attention to passers-by and can amplify the case’s media coverage, both mainstream reporting and via posts on socials. They create noise, headlines and useful visual content with their chants and placards.

It’s not only on Fleet Street where the culture of protest outside court rooms is alive and kicking. You will find it from Chelmsford to Bradford, Manchester to Bristol. Recent protests that have attracted headlines include: Just Stop Oil; Insulate Britain; supporters of Lucy Letby and WASPIs;  Defend our Juries; No Births Behind Bars; Stop the Rwanda plan .. I could go on.

The police were recently granted enhanced powers under the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act of 2022 and Public Order Act of 2023 to limit public protest. This applies as much to court protests as marches and sit-ins. In May, the Public Law Project and Liberty successfully challenged the legislation for being insufficient in its definition of disruption and has called on the police to refrain from using these powers until the Government’s appeal has been heard.

Meantime, however, five people were arrested last Wednesday while protesting outside Westminster Magistrates Court where a woman charged over a placard depicting British politicians as coconuts was due to appear. They too were suspected of racially aggravated public order offences in relation to the use of coconut imagery. Their arrest has, in turn, given the oxygen of publicity to the original cause.

My point is this: in a world where debate, politics and media channels are increasingly polarised, protestors outside court rooms understand their potential to play into the publicity mix. They aren’t showing signs of being cowed by new legislation and know their function is not simply on the pavement. Any smart campaigner will be utilising the opportunity of a court case to speak to a wider audience on social media, on mainstream and even niche broadcast stations. Sometimes arrest is even the plan – from which wider attention can follow.

There will always be protestors keen to spotlight a case against the state. But litigation involving individuals, charitable or commercial entities are also fair game. These litigants underestimate the possibility for, and power of, protestors outside court at their peril. The proliferation of disparate groups all keen to jump on the bandwagon of an argument or subject matter means it can be challenging to follow each of their specialist interests.

However planning and anticipation is key. Litigation PR statements that focus solely on the merits of the legal case may be missing the chance to address the dynamics of these wider interested parties.

VIEW THE ARICLE HERE: theguardian.com

Louise Beeson

May 2024