This week thousands of people are heading out to protest against the US President and Liberty is working hard to protect their rights of free expression and assembly.

We will be monitoring any restrictions placed on the protests by the police or other authorities. This involves running a team of volunteer legal observers throughout the protests as well as working closely with the Stop the War coalition and campaigning in the press for protesters to have as free as possible access to various areas.

Our concern is that people's right to peaceful, lawful protest is maintained – no matter how important the visiting dignitary.

What we have seen is a government and police force which seems increasingly willing to use anti-terrorist laws to stop legitimate and peaceful protesters. We saw this at the peace demonstrations at RAF Fairford during the invasion of Iraq, and again more recently at the large Arms fair in London’s Docklands.

Similarly, we are concerned that police officers will not block protesters and confiscate banners as happened during the October 1999 visit of China's President Jiang Zemin.

We believe that, whilst the President must be protected from harm, that does not mean protecting him from embarrassment – and peaceful, lawful protest includes visible protest.