A mental health nurse has been formally served a £10K fine for organising an NHS protest in Manchester.
Karen Reissmann, 61, has accused Greater Manchester Police of wrongly issuing the fine, and is prepared to take her case to a judicial review.
She was handed the fine in March, despite her event complying with social distancing and being 'fully risked assessed.'
Ms Reissmann and her solicitors have notified the force of her intention to challenge the 'unlawful' fine via a pre-action protocol letter (PAP).
They do not believe that force's actions were necessary or proportionate.
A CrowdJustice page backing Mr Reissman's case has so far raised more than £39,000.
The 61-year-old nurse said: "I've received my fine and we have now served them with a PAP letter.
"I don't think the fine is proportionate, I don't think that they are right in the law in what they have argued, and I think it's unacceptable to do so.
"They should withdraw the fine. It's been very clear that it's not publicly supported.
"As we're going for a judicial review it means that have to be prepared to cover the police's costs if we lose.
"Our CrowdJustice fundraiser has reached £39,010 pledged by 1,766 people so far.
"It reflects that we can pay those costs if we lose.
"If we win and therefore don't have to use the money, we'll donate it to a similar case."
Ms Reissmann believes so many people have donated because they are angry at NHS workers being denied the right to protest.
She added: "It reflects the views of the large number of people who feel very, very angry that they were not allowed to protest properly.
"Firstly, people think that health workers should be allowed to protest about the 1pc pay rise.
"Secondly, people think that we should have the right to protest as long we do so safely.
"We risk assessed our protest to make sure it was safe beforehand and the police weren't interested in it."
London law firm Bindmans has taken up Ms Reissmann's case.
GMP reviewed Ms Reissmann's fine at the request of the mayor but it was found to be appropriate.
The nurse said the public support for her case has only made her more determined to win her case.
"I was very, very frightened when they first said it," she said of the moment she was fined on March 7.
"I was flabbergasted, in fact. And then they threatened to inform my employer.
"I had to go through the process of self-reporting to my employer and that wasn't easy."
Greater Manchester Police declined to comment.
