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Peaceful scenes throughout fourth Kill the Bill protest in Bristol
A couple danced while music played softly outside Bridewell Police Station late into Tuesday night.
The fourth Kill the Bill demonstration in Bristol in less than a fortnight culminated in a sit-in at the same spot where police had previously clashed with protesters in scenes that made headlines around the world.
In contrast, the protest on Tuesday, March 30 was calm and peaceful throughout.
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Starting just before 7pm, the demonstration held in opposition to the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill saw passionate speeches on College Green before a march through the city centre.
Chants of “kill the bill” and “this is what democracy looks like” rang out on the streets of Bristol as the protesters wound their way through the centre, before doing a brief lap up towards the M32 and back into Broadmead.
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Eventually, those demonstrating stopped outside Bridewell Police Station, where people sat on the road to show their opposition to the bill that, among other things, would see rights to protest restricted.
Teams of officers with riot gear were poised well out of the way, but only a few officers remained visible as they oversaw the protest from the fringes.
Towards the end of the night, the vibe was that of the remaining stragglers at a festival outside Bridewell Police Station.
“Ain’t this the most chilled protest ever,” said one protester, wandering towards Taka Taka soon after 11.15pm.
The fourth Kill the Bill protest in Bristol culminated with a sit-in outside Bridewell Police Station
Wind back to earlier in the evening on College Green and people spoke passionately about why they oppose the bill.
“I think what the government is doing is intentional and divisive,” one protester, who didn’t want to give her name, told Bristol247.
“They could do this [put the bill forward] another time. They are using this to invalidate the voice of opposition. I don’t want to be here but essentially, lives are on the line. Human rights are in the line and they’ve given us no choice.”
Protesters say the government gave them no choice but to turn out and protest
As protesters gathered in a circle on College Green, people took it in turns to speak. Among them, members of the traveller community set to have their way of life turned upside down by the bill and others from the LGBTQ`+ community, who spoke of how much they owed to protest.
“My right to marry who I love, as a lesbian, was won through protest,” said one speaker.
Another speaker was among many to be met with loud cheers. “There are so many perspectives and so many nuances to what’s going on,” he said.
“If you feel this in your heart, keep turning out.”
People gathered on College Green earlier in the evening
Avon & Somerset maintained a low key police presence throughout the protest, which had mostly wound up by 1am.
As some of the final protesters moved aside to let lorries hauling equipment for Stephen Merchant’s The Offenders series through, a couple of people made sure any litter was picked up from the road.
The police response was very different to the protests on previous evenings
All photos by Ellie Pipe
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