Liberty - Protecting civil liberties, promoting human rights

In a letter to the Manchester Guardian, it was announced that ‘In view of the general and alarming tendency to encroachment on the liberty of the citizen, there has recently been formed a Council for Civil Liberties’.

The Council’s first act was to take up the role of legal observers on the hunger march that took place in Hyde Park in February 1934.

Leading figures from the worlds of Politics, the Arts and Academia have sent messages of congratulations and support to Liberty:

"The work of Liberty is now even more important than it was when it was founded 75 years ago. The threats to our freedom come increasingly from state authoritarianism which now uses the war on terror as an excuse for doing so. Unless we stand against it we shall lose what we are being told we must defend." Tony Benn

“We are bombarded with a variable menu of national anniversaries, commemorations, exhortations to be proud of Britain. But I find it harder to think of anything more worthy of celebration than the fact that since 1934, in spite of whatever else, somewhere in our country, the struggle to maintain civil liberties has been kept alive. Congratulations to Liberty on 75 years!” Colin Firth

“The tradition of civil liberties is fundamental to any civilised society, and Liberty has been protecting the rights of the individual since 1934. The battle is far from over. In an over-governed nation it has become fashionable to disregard individual liberties, both great and small. This makes the task of protecting freedom and privacy even more vital. I wish Liberty a very happy 75th birthday.” Sir John Major

“Human rights are not unlike the rainforest: they're very easy to tear down and they need understanding and protection. We all need the oxygen of Liberty and I wish them a very successful 75th anniversary!”  Emma Thompson

“The struggle to defend and indeed to extend our civil liberties never ends. It has to embrace what is unpopular as well as what is popular. The information revolution poses new threats to privacy and individual freedom, the treatment of refugees and immigrants makes our commitment to tolerance and the rule of law unconvincing. Liberty has been an independent and fearless champion of our freedoms; congratulations on your birthday, you are badly needed now as 75 years ago when my mother was amongst those who set up the NCCL.” Baroness Shirley Williams

Contact: Mairi Clare Rodgers on 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831 128

Notes to Editors

1. The National Council of Civil Liberties was renamed ‘Liberty’ on 24 January 1989.

2. Find out more about Liberty’s history by reading our timeline