They Can’t Arrest This Billboard

New anti-protest laws in the UK are making it increasingly difficult—and even dangerous—for people to exercise their democratic right to protest. Peaceful activists are being arrested at alarming rates, often without charges, creating a chilling effect on public dissent.

If people can no longer safely protest in public, what if the last safe space left was a billboard? We turned digital billboards into protest platforms—giving voice to activists who risk arrest by protesting in the streets.

We launched “They Can’t Arrest This Billboard,” a nationwide digital out-of-home protest across London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Six high-profile activists appeared in synchronized DOOH screens, holding placards with the message: “I’m protesting in here to avoid arrest out there.” The campaign was supported by Amnesty, Liberty, and Friends of the Earth, with QR codes linking to info and a petition. It won Gold in Ocean Outdoor’s Digital Creative Competition and sparked national conversation around the erosion of protest rights.