"Remove Duplicates" macro gives error on protected worksheet

Hello,





I have a macro that sorts and removes duplicates from a fixed selection in a single column.
The cells A1:O1 (headers) and O2:O15 (calculated cells) are blocked. The rest of the sheet is unblocked.
My macro runs smoothly when the sheet is unprotected, but when I protect the sheet, so vital cell-content is secure, the macro runs into a 1004 error at the following line from my code:

ActiveSheet.Range("$A$2:$A$300").RemoveDuplicates Columns:=1, Header:=xlNo

Here is the complete code.
My question is: Can this macro do what I want in protected mode or not?
If yes, what should I change?

Sub Ontdubbelen()
'
    Range("A2:A300").Select
    ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("PIM-Batch").Sort.SortFields.Add Key:=Range("A2"), _
        SortOn:=xlSortOnValues, Order:=xlAscending, DataOption:=xlSortNormal
    With ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("PIM-Batch").Sort
        .SetRange Range("A2:A300")
        .Header = xlNo
        .MatchCase = False
        .Orientation = xlTopToBottom
        .SortMethod = xlPinYin
        .Apply
    End With
    ActiveSheet.Range("$A$2:$A$300").RemoveDuplicates Columns:=1, Header:=xlNo
    Selection.NumberFormat = "0"
    With Selection
        .HorizontalAlignment = xlGeneral
        .VerticalAlignment = xlBottom
        .WrapText = False
        .Orientation = 0
        .AddIndent = False
        .IndentLevel = 0
        .ShrinkToFit = False
        .ReadingOrder = xlContext
        .MergeCells = False
    End With
    With Selection.Font
        .Name = "Arial"
        .Size = 10
        .Strikethrough = False
        .Superscript = False
        .Subscript = False
        .OutlineFont = False
        .Shadow = False
        .Underline = xlUnderlineStyleNone
        .TintAndShade = 0
        .ThemeFont = xlThemeFontNone
    End With
End Sub