Public meetings and vigils

Public meetings

Public meetings held in privately owned or local council venues are commonly subject to public liability or a range of health and safety conditions.

If the venue owner or council is unsympathetic to the activist organisation these conditions can be used to limit or prevent use of the building.

Local councils tend to have a range of conditions for hire of council owned halls and buildings including adequate public liabilityLegal responsibility, e.g. for breaking a contract, committing a crime. It may be civil (q.v.) or criminal, and is enforced by civil or criminal courts. More insurance.

If you want to hold a public meeting in a public space, see marches and rallies.

 

Vigils

Vigils are a more somber form of a rally. They are usually quiet and often held in the evening.

They are typically used when there has been a death, a tragedy, or a looming tragedy. 

Many of the considerations noted in Marches and rallies may need to taken into account.

Due to the ongoing nature of vigils pressure from the police, property owners and other stakeholders may become more intense over time.

For a case study of a long-running vigil see the case study – Women chained at the US Consulate.