‘Activism should be part of everyone’s lives’

Bristol is a city known for its protests. From the riots of 1831 to the toppling of Edward Colston in 2020, our city has always held a reputation as the UK’s capital of discontent.

It was in an effort to document and celebrate this radical energy that two years ago I started The Bristol Activist, a news blog for progressive protest and activism in Bristol.

Since then I have attended more marches, demonstrations, actions, occupations and rallies than you could shake a placard at and along the way I’ve met hundreds of wonderful, caring, passionate and dedicated people who take time out of their lives to fight for justice and a better world for everyone.

I believe that activism shouldn’t be a side-story, a novelty, or a fringe event but should be part of everyone’s lives. After all, we all want to see a better world and we all have the power to make that happen.

With that in mind I thought I would look back over the last two years on the front line of Bristol’s protest scene, to celebrate the victories, share some lessons learned and hopefully convince a few more people to stand up and get involved.

Protesters on College Green against Bristol Airport expansion – photo: James Ward

Activists come in all shapes and sizes.

I think one of the biggest barriers to people getting involved in activism is the feeling that “activists aren’t people like me.” This isn’t helped by the media and politicians frequently representing activists as outsiders, or a “selfish minority”.

The reality is, there is no archetypal activist. I have met people young and old, progressives and conservatives, anarchists and communists, nurses, civil servants, teachers, youth workers, builders, carpenters, engineers and even the occasional clown.

What unites them is simply a desire to make a better world for everyone.

Rebel Clowns in St Werburgh’s at the XR Summer Uprising 2019 – photo: Robyn Hambrook

Activism comes from the community.

This was the case in the campaign to save the Ashley Down Oak. A 100-year-old oak tree was threatened with felling by the council after its roots were suspected to be causing subsidence to a nearby house.

Local residents, some of whom had played under the oak in their childhood, and campaigners from across the city rallied to protect the oak, building a treehouse and preventing cutting crews from gaining access whilst other protesters spoke with the owner of the subsiding house, who it turned out didn’t want the tree to be felled either.

Through solid perseverance and the strength of community, the Save The Ashley Down Oak campaign was ultimately successful and the tree remains standing proud today.

This holm oak tree on Ashley Down Road has stood for more than a century – photo: Martin Booth

Winning might not be what you expect

Since 2018, a small group of Bristolians has campaigned to stop Bristol Airport expansion.
Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN) has contested the expansion in a planning inquiry and in the High Court and will soon take it up again in the Court of Appeal.

Although the airport currently has a green light to expand, BAAN’s dogged refusal to allow a climate-trashing project like Bristol Airport expansion to proceed unchallenged has saved Bristol millions of tonnes of CO2 and is a shining example of what a small group of committed people can achieve.

Living the future

Protest isn’t always about saying no. Sometimes it’s about saying yes.

When in June 2021 Swim Bristol Harbour decided to campaign to open parts of the docks up for swimming, they didn’t just write letters to their councillors or sign a petition, they went to the harbour and dived in, living as if their wishes had already been granted.

They followed this with a swimsuit rave on College Green, bringing joy and laughter to their campaign.

Swim Bristol Harbour was eventually successful. In February, Bristol City Council announced a pilot scheme to allow swimming in an area of the harbour would begin in April.

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Read more: Bristol harbour swimming pilot to begin in April

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Quiet activism is fine, too

Swimsuit raves certainly aren’t for everyone. There’s plenty you can do from home or within your community.

Bristol has some great examples of quiet activism, from planting rooftop bee gardens to playing a game of cricket as a way of talking about the climate crisis.

Then there are the amazing Community Climate Action Plan schemes running across Bristol, enabling thousands of people from all walks of life to take part in building community and improving their local area whilst simultaneously doing good for the planet.

Being an activist doesn’t mean turning your whole life upside down or becoming a social outcast. In fact, getting involved can bring you closer to your community.

Activism, at its heart, is the recognition that we’re stronger together, happier together, that a problem shared is a problem halved and a victory shared is a victory doubled.

So the next time you see something in the world that isn’t right, don’t just stand by, stand up!

James Ward is a journalist and author of The Bristol Activist blog

Main photo: Wong Yat Him

Read next:

• Trans community and supporters stage Section 35 protest
• Are Bristol’s ‘kill the bill’ protesters being made examples of by the state?
• Midwives, parents and doulas protest in Bristol

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