The conference began with a series of inspirational presentations by campaigns and struggles which had successfully stood up to attempts by the authorities to suppress them. The session was chaired by one of the McLibel defendants, and included activists from the Gate Gourmet strikers, Parliament Sq peace protestors, school walkouts by School Students Against the War, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty protests, 20 yrs of anti-racist campaigning by Newham Monitoring Project, anti-arms trade protests, and the 4-year long anti-apartheid non-stop picket of the S. African embassy in early 90's.

During the conference a range of practical tactics and strategies that have worked in the past, or that could be effective in the future, were identified, discussed and encouraged. [See workshop details below]. As well as a whole range of experiences being shared by the diverse activists, organisations and campaigns present, participants contributed well-known examples from UK history, and indeed from throughout the world, of campaigns and movements successfully refusing to be intimidated by legal threats. All kinds of totalitarian laws, measures and systems have been imposed on people and eventually defied and defeated. The message was that oppressive laws can be made unworkable by determination and solidarity among those affected, by mass defiance, and by turning the tables on those who would try to silence and suppress dissent.

The rest is up to you, and everyone....

On the website is more detailed information about the conference workshops.

 http://www.freedomtoprotest.org.uk