Two-thirds against House blockade

Two-thirds of people contacted in an island-wide poll said they were against last month’s protest outside House of Assembly which prevented MPs from entering the building.

The dispute led to police intervention when officers pepper-sprayed protesters and in turn sparked a storm of controversy.

According to the Global Research poll, which sought the opinion of 400 registered voters who intend to vote in the next General Election, 67 per cent said they believe protesters did not have the right to break the law and block access to the House. Another 25 per cent said protesters had the right to block access, with 8 per cent either not responding or didn’t know.

The intended peaceful protest was organised by the People’s Campaign and supported by the Bermuda Industrial Union.

The margin of error for the poll — conducted between December 11 and December 15 — was +/-4.9 per cent.

Respondents were asked whether “the right to protest peacefully includes the right of protesters to block access to the House of Assembly” or whether “the right to protest peacefully does not give protesters the right to break the law and to block access to the House of Assembly”.

The responses were broken down by race, gender and age.

Among blacks polled, 54 per cent said the protesters did not have the right to block access to the House, 34 per cent said they did have the right, and 12 per cent either didn’t answer or didn’t know.

Of the whites approached, 92 per cent were against, 6 per cent for and 1 per cent either didn’t answer or didn’t know.

Some 72 per cent of males were against and 20 per cent for. In the female category, 63 per cent were against and 29 per cent for.

The protest took place on December 2, after which it was decided House sessions would be suspended.

It was later announced that Parliament would reconvene February 3.

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