Report by Amina Tyler, Press TV, London.
They came from across the political divide with one cause in mind; to stop a new piece of legislation being pushed through the British Parliament that would tear up centuries of legal protection.
The Justice and Security Bill will extend secret courts across England and Wales. Opponents say this move will further undermine the very notion of justice in the UK. Saghir Hussain is a Human Rights Lawyer and is appalled at the prospect.
The government has been accused of pushing forward with this bill after they were forced to pay an undisclosed sum to Binyam Mohamed and other former Guantanamo detainees for its role in their rendition and torture.
This, after judges ruled the evidence against the men by MI5 and MI6 agent could not be heard in secret. Ministers have always insisted that secret courts are the only way for national security interests to be maintained. Natalie Bennett from the Green Party disagrees.
For Yvonne Ridley, the introduction of the Justice and Security Bill is about reassuring the US its shared secrets are safe and the UK government attempting to protect against further national embarrassment.
The Bill will be debated in Parliament in October with opposition from Respect, Green and rebels from the three major parties.
As has been discussed inside Parliament, there are many for whom there are too many issues still unresolved about the legislation. If this Bill is rushed through, the UK could be sleepwalking into devastating consequences.
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Plans to introduce secret courts in Britain slammed by activists
