Delegating your protest

More and more people who can afford to do so are paying other people to attend rallies, demonstrate, or otherwise participate in social and political activism on their behalf. As Murray Pearson of Indirect Action explained, this is a growing phenomenon: “There is really no contradiction here. Many of our clients have high pressure jobs, a full family life, as well as a number of other commitments but that doesn't prevent them from having either a social conscience or strong political views – in fact such people are often very well informed and passionate about these issues. They want to get involved but they are time poor and so it makes sense for them to protest by proxy. At the same time we have numerous applicants from the usual demographic groups – out of work actors, students, and the like – who are all too keen to have the work." Lawyer Bernard McBride, however, was keen to point out the risks involved. "If the person who is protesting on your behalf gets carried away and commits a crime, there may well be a liability attaching to the person who has commissioned them and possibly even a conspiracy charge."