LONDON

More than 40 rights groups, charities, and unions on Monday rejected the British government's "dangerous" plan to give the police new powers to effectively ban repeat protests.

In a joint statement titled Defend the Right to Protest Civil Society, UK-based civil society organizations, including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Greenpeace, Trades Union Congress, and Jewish Voice for Liberation, said they believe that the right to protest is "precious and should be defended."

"We therefore oppose the government’s draconian crackdown on our rights to freedom of expression and assembly," read the statement signed by a total of 44 non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

They called the new amendment in the Crime and Policing Bill, which would require police to consider the “cumulative impact” of repeated protests in the same area when imposing conditions on demonstrations, an "extreme proposal."

"If this becomes law, the police in England and Wales will be required to consider any past protests or planned future protests in the same ‘area’ when deciding whether to impose restrictions," they warned.

Saying that the government statements "make clear" these powers have been brought forward in response to the pro-Palestine rallies, however, the statement highlighted that the impact of this change of law "would be wide-ranging."

Announcing the new police powers in October, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said repeated large-scale protests over Gaza had caused "considerable fear" for the Jewish community after a deadly terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester.

An anti-racist march could be blocked from Whitehall because of a previous farmers’ protest, or a pride march restricted because a far-right demonstration was recently held in the same town.

"Clamping down on peaceful protests will not protect anyone’s rights or safety, and we reject cynical attempts by government to present this repressive proposal as protection for vulnerable groups," it added.

Reiterating that the right to protest must be defended, the statement called on the government to immediately drop its "dangerous proposal" and repeal the succession of anti-protest laws on which it builds.​​​​​​​