The UK government using Covid-19 as an excuse to ban demonstrations outside the trial of people accused of toppling the statue of slave-trafficker Edward Colston.

Of course, people must take precautions against transmitting Covid-19 whenever they come near strangers, and that includes when protesting. They must wear masks all the time while there, and stay two meters apart. As long as they do so, they must be allowed to protest.

Protesting is more than a human right, it is a crucial aspect of democracy.