Activists from XR Youth decorated the Cascade Steps with origami peace lotuses to raise awareness of the links between war and the climate crisis. A group of 14 activists arrived at the Steps at 14:00, bringing delicately crafted lotuses, XR flags, and a banner bearing the words “War is Ecocide, Ecocide is War”, which was strung up on the harbour railings. Poppy, a member of … Continue reading XR Youth Harbourside Peace Demo
Having survived police batons and dogs, wind and rain, and hostile media coverage, Bristol’s Kill The Bill movement may have finally met its match in a sunny bank holiday weekend. At least, this was the feeling at the most recent Kill The Bill demo on Saturday, May 19, where a tiny crowd of 25 people crawled through central Bristol. ‘There’s other things to do now’, … Continue reading Low Turnout Hampers Bank Holiday Kill The Bill March
A Vigil for Black Lives was held on College Green on Tuesday, May 25, marking one year since the murder of George Floyd by police in the US. The murder, for which officer Derek Chauvin was ultimately charged, ignited protests across the world, and led to the toppling of the Edward Colston statue on June 7 last year. The Vigil was organized by Glad Colston’s … Continue reading Vigil For Black Lives on College Green Marks One Year Since George Floyd Murder
Youth organisers led a march in solidarity with Palestinians through Bristol on Saturday, May 22. Around 200 people gathered at Shah Jalal Mosque in Easton from 14:00 on Saturday, May 22nd before marching along Stapleton Road, through Old Market, Broadmead and towards College Green. When the march arrived at College Green at 16:00, numbers had more than doubled to around 500 people, who gathered outside … Continue reading Youth Turnout Brings Colour and Energy to Palestine Solidarity March
Members of the Bristol-based activist group the Evergreens led a creative action at the London Science Museum on Wednesday, May 19. The action targeted oil giant Shell’s sponsorship of the new Our Future Planet exhibition at the Museum, which the Evergreens claim is an attempt by Shell to “greenwash” their polluting operations. In a statement, Mary Collett, an Evergreen’s spokesperson said ‘as far back as … Continue reading Bristol Activists in London to Protest Science Museum Shell Sponsorship
Campaigners have won a legal battle to protect Clifton Downs from becoming a car park. Downs for People, set up in 2013 to monitor and launch action against zoo parking on the Downs, has settled out of court with Bristol City Council and the Downs Committee, to obtain a binding agreement that the latter will not license land on the Downs for parking after 2023. … Continue reading Downs Safe From Car Park After Legal Victory for Campaigners
Chants of Kill the Bill have echoed through Bristol’s streets for seven weeks now as thousands of protesters voice their opposition to the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill. But the unity of dissent against the PCSC Bill hides a diversity of motivations, and as the weeks have worn on protesters have had to grapple with the identity of their fledgling movement. … Continue reading Analysis: Kill The Bill From the Perspective of Those Involved
Seventy-five Travellers are resisting eviction from the Glenfrome gasworks in Eastville were they have been living for the last few weeks. Local residents report several hundred bailiffs and police arriving early this morning (May 20th) and closing the road to traffic before beginning efforts to enter the site. The Travellers resisted by using lock-on tubes and a tripod but were ultimately unsuccessful and bailiffs gained … Continue reading Breaking: Travellers Resist Eviction at Glenfrome Road Site
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Bristolians marched in solidarity with Palestinians on Saturday, amidst increasing Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Protesters gathered in Castle Park from 14:00 before marching through the city centre, returning to Castle Park before 16:00, where speeches were heard and information stands handed out flyers. The march, organized on Facebook, was kept lively with many flags, a couple of flares, and loud chants … Continue reading Free Palestine Demo Marches Through Central Bristol
NHS staff held a demonstration on Millennium Square today (May 15th) to demand a 15% “restorative” pay rise for the work they have done during the pandemic. Grassroots campaign NHS Workers Say No Bristol organized the demo to call for a 15% pay rise for all NHS staff. In its spring budget, the government announced that NHS staff would receive only a 1% pay rise, … Continue reading NHS Demo Demands ‘Restorative’ 15% Pay Rise
