Bristol Sex Workers’ Collective led a march through central Bristol tonight (December 17) in a protest to end violence and stigmatisation targeted at sex workers. The protest started as a vigil on College Green with speeches from 6.00pm to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Sex Workers. At 6.30, the crowd of around 50 people set off on a short march … Continue reading March to End Violence Against Sex Workers
Campaigners face a last minute scramble to safeguard 74 mature trees on Baltic Wharf, land on which Bristol City Council plans to build luxury flats. Community group Save Baltic Wharf Trees have a deadline of Wednesday (December 22) to gather 3,500 signatures on their petition, which they say is not only about the trees, but is about council decision-making and ‘the future of Bristol.’ We … Continue reading Last Minute Race to Save the Baltic Wharf Trees
ACORN Bristol tonight occupied the foyer of City Hall to create “the world’s longest toilet queue” in protest against the closure of public toilets. The action comes as part of the group’s Unlock Our Toilets campaign which seeks to reopen Bristol’s nine of the public toilets closed by Bristol City Council in 2018, and calls on the council to hold a review of toilet provision … Continue reading ACORN Takes Action Over Lack of Public Toilets
Following a popular rally in October, Together With Refugees returned to the city centre on Saturday (December 11) in protest against the Nationality and Borders Bill. The rally, co-organised with Bristol University Amnesty International, attracted some 100 people – far more than in October – to the Fountain Steps. Here the crowd, braced against the cold, heard speeches against the Bill and the callous attitude … Continue reading Bristol Braves Cold to Protest Patel’s Borders Bill
As hundreds of Bristolians queued across the city to buy Banksy t-shirts commemorating the toppling of Colston’s from his plinth, a small group gathered outside the headquarters of the society that allowed him to stay up there for so long. When the statue was dredged from the water 18 months ago, it brought from the depths a hidden history of the institution that played a … Continue reading Society of Merchant Venturers Demo Shines Light on ‘Buried’ History
Notable Bristol figures led a mock funeral procession on Park Street this morning (Friday, December 10) to raise awareness of climate breakdown. Amongst the 21 taking part were green travel pioneer Alastair Sawday, local restaurateur Arne Ringner, and former head teacher of Bristol Cathedral School (now the Choir School) Christopher Martin. Martin, 83, who organised the action, said that he did so for the sake … Continue reading Notable Bristolians Lead Park Street Funeral Action
The festive period promises to be a restive one for Bristol with a schedule of protests running throughout advent. No fewer than nine protests and vigils are planned over the coming weeks, with the Colston 4 trial and Police Bill developments taking centre stage. If you know of a protest taking place that is not listed below, please contact thebristolactivist@protonmail.com. December 8 A vigil will … Continue reading Upcoming Protests in Bristol, December 2021
Seven months after saving the Ashley Down Oak from felling, campaigners are still waiting for transparency and concrete commitments from Bristol City Council. Earlier this year, a much-loved 120-year-old oak tree on Ashley Down Road was scheduled to be felled by Bristol City Council when a nearby resident complained that the tree’s roots were causing subsidence of his home. Campaigners from Save The Ashley Down … Continue reading Tree Campaigners Fight for Council Transparency
Staff at the University of Bristol (UoB) are holding three days of strikes over pensions and pay disputes. Yesterday (December 1) thousands of staff with the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) joined strike action and hundreds turned out on picket lines across the university. They join 54 other UK universities currently striking. At the heart of the strike are recent proposals by UoB to cut … Continue reading University Staff Strike Over Pay, Pensions and Working Conditions
