What is The Bristol Activist?

TBA is a news site covering progressive protest, activism and resistance in Bristol. It has sections for current events and features, interviews and analysis, and an archive to search stories by category and featured groups/movements.

By bringing together stories from all groups and causes, and by spanning across past and present, TBA aims to creates a living archive of activist knowledge and experience for other activists to learn from and be inspired by.

Read more about the values TBA holds here.

What kind of stories does TBA cover?

TBA creates a space for those activities that mainstream media would not consider newsworthy. This could be small protests, banner drops, fly-postering, online campaigns, letter writing campaigns… anything and everything. As long as your cause is progressive and you consider it an act of protest, then it has a place on TBA.

No story is too small that there is nothing to be learned from it or that it can’t inspire others to act.

Who is behind TBA?

TBA was created by me, James Ward. I am an activist and citizen journalist living in Bristol. Before starting TBA I was an organiser for Extinction Rebellion Bristol for just under 2 years.

Why now?

We live in dangerous times. Against impending crises of climate, ecology, social welfare and democratic legitimacy, our government is turning increasingly towards authoritarianism. Nowhere is this clearer than in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will fundamentally later the nature of activism and, in all likelihood, make it far more dangerous for everyone.

At this time we need stories that can unite and bind us, that can inspire and educate us. We need to know that we are acting on the right side of history and that we won’t let the bastards get us down.

Can I get involved?

Yes! If you know of protest, activism or resistance in Bristol then let us know and we will do our best to cover them.

Or, if you’d prefer to tell your story in your own words, then we can work together to make that happen. Anyone is welcome to contribute to TBA.

Or, if you want to help out running TBA as a volunteer, again just let us know.

You can contact TBA here or via email James at: thebristolactivist@protonmail.com.