Latest Protests and demonstrations News

Protests at UN climate talks, from Israel-Hamas war to detainees, see 'shocking level of censorship'

Dec. 09, 2023 09:04 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Activists designated Saturday a day of protest at the COP28 summit in Dubai. But the rules of the game in the tightly controlled United Arab Emirates meant sharp restrictions on what demonstrators could say, where they could walk and what their signs could...

Polish truck drivers are blocking the border with Ukraine. It's hurting on the battlefield

Dec. 09, 2023 00:31 AM EST

KORCZOWA, Poland (AP) — Pickup trucks and tourniquets bound for Ukraine’s battlefield are stuck in a mileslong line at the border with Poland. Components to build drones to fight off Russian forces are facing weeks of delays. Ukrainian charities and companies supplying the...

Arkansas man sentenced to 5 1/2 years for firebombing police cars during 2020 protests

Dec. 08, 2023 18:15 PM EST

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The ringleader of a group who admitted to firebombing several police cars in Arkansas during the 2020 protests over the killing of George Floyd has been sentenced to five and a half years in federal prison, while three of his co-defendants were sentenced to 18 months...

Russia puts prominent Russian-US journalist Masha Gessen on wanted list for criminal charges

Dec. 08, 2023 15:37 PM EST

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian police have put prominent Russian-American journalist and author Masha Gessen on a wanted list after opening a criminal case against them on charges of spreading false information about the Russian army. It is the latest step in an unrelenting...

2 journalists are detained in Belarus as part of a crackdown on dissent

Dec. 08, 2023 15:07 PM EST

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Two journalists were detained in Belarus on Friday, a Belarusian journalist association reported, the latest step in a crackdown against dissent in recent years. Chief editor of the Ranak television channel, Yulia Dauletava, and correspondent Lyudmila...

Hundreds of Slovaks protest the new government's plan to close prosecutors office for top crimes

Dec. 07, 2023 17:03 PM EST

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Hundreds of people rallied Thursday in the Slovak capital to protest the new government’s plan to close the special prosecutors office that deals with major crimes, including high-profile murders, terrorism and graft. The demonstrators in Bratislava...

Climate activists pour mud and Nesquik on St. Mark's Basilica in Venice

Dec. 07, 2023 12:45 PM EST

ROME (AP) — Activists poured mud and chocolate milk on the facade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice on Thursday in their latest climate protest, drawing a swift rebuke from the lagoon city’s mayor. Police quickly detained the six activists. There was no immediate word of any...

Why the Albanian opposition is disrupting parliament with flares, makeshift barricades and fires

Dec. 07, 2023 07:52 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — For months, Albanian opposition parties have used flares and noise to disrupt Parliament, in protest at what they describe as the authoritarian rule of the governing Socialist Party. On Thursday, lawmakers passed the annual budget and other draft laws,...

Gaza protests prompt California governor to hold virtual Christmas tree-lighting ceremony

Dec. 06, 2023 15:33 PM EST

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom won't host an in-person Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the state Capitol this year because of concerns that protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza would disrupt the annual event. Instead, the Democratic governor and...

Activists say their voices are stifled by increasing rules and restrictions at COP28 climate talks

Dec. 06, 2023 11:29 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — This year's United Nations climate talks may have seen record numbers registered to attend, but activists who have spent years demonstrating at the annual event say their space to voice their demands is shrinking year on year. Held in Dubai in the...