RAISING FREEDOM’S BANNER
How peaceful demonstrations have changed the world
Paul Harris SC
The first ever world-wide history of peaceful demonstrations, from their origins in eighteenth century England, through their spread round the world, to their recognition as a human right.
Covers all the major demonstrating movements, including the Chartists, the Suffragettes, the Hunger Marchers, Gandhi, the US Civil Rights movement, People Power in the Philippines, Tian An Men Square, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, Greenpeace and many more. Considers why some succeeded and others failed.
Has chapters on demonstrations and the law, demonstrations and the police, demonstrations and revolutions.
Illustrated paperback. 320 pp. Retail price £12. ISBN 978-0-9933583-0-2.
Author
Paul Harris is an English barrister, and a Hong Kong Senior Counsel. He was the founding chairman of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales, and of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor.
He became interested in peaceful demonstrations when defending Falun Gong hunger strikers charged with obstructing the pavement, in what became Hong Kong’s leading case on the right to demonstrate.
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Reviews
What critics say:
“Raising Freedom’s Banner is essential reading for all students of constitutional and administrative law, for those with an interest in human rights, and also for those engaged in peaceful protests the world over … comprehensive historical and global journey documenting the history and development of protest and the evolution of laws that have both sought to defend, to limit, and to extinguish it”.
- Denning Law Journal, University of Buckingham, January 2016
“A brilliant analysis of the right to protest by one of the world’s leading experts. Paul Harris’s book is a powerful reminder that freedom and democracy only thrive when this right is protected by law. Historically rich and full of legal ammunition, it made me want to take to the streets as well as the courts”.
- Baroness Helena Kennedy QC.
“This is a comprehensive exploration of the right to demonstrate. It is exceptionally well-researched, and is written with passion by a barrister who has himself taken cases defending the right of freedom of assembly. Paul Harris has triumphantly accomplished the huge task he set himself”
- Professor Bill Bowring, University of London
“A scholarly and comprehensive account of the freedom to demonstrate. This should be regarded as a universal right – a point impressively made by Paul Harris with all the authority that one expects of someone who founded a widely respected human rights organisation”.
- Lord Chris Patten, last governor of Hong Kong
“This comparative study provides a wealth of information about and insights into the history and political significance of the right to demonstrate.. For anyone interested in the history of human rights and political protest generally, this is an excellent resource.”
- Professor Andrew Byrnes, University of New South Wales and Centre for Comparative and Public Law, University of Hong Kong
“This is an excellent book – extremely well written, clearly by a very knowledgeable author. The tone of the book is intelligent but not long-winded, and I found it a very easy read. I’ve been genuinely inspired by this book and the stories of people who have been brave enough to stand up for their beliefs and their rights “
- Amazon UK customer review.