Damien Gayle Profile picture
Guardian environment correspondent, covering climate action across Europe and beyond. All opinions my own and no doubt totally wrong

Apr 3, 2021, 34 tweets

People have begun rallying at Speakers Corner in London ahead of the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest this afternoon.

“We’re from the Bargee Travellers Association, we live on boats that don’t have home moorings. We’re here in solidarity with other travellers and also for the right to protest.”

Olivia, right, 32, from Peterborough, at the #KillTheBill protest.

“I’m here dressed as the grim reaper to mourn what is in effect the death of democracy .... We need to stop this bill going through because it’s a complete erosion of our civil liberties.”

Name withheld. #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill

“I feel like the government is doing anything they can to take away our right to protest ... They are trying to turn this country into a police state.”

Jevoughn,18, on the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

All the tribes of the left and beyond are here on the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

The #KillTheBill protest has now outgrown Speakers Corner and moved out into Hyde Park. #PoliceCrackdownBill

“The government want to strip away our hard-fought, hard-won democratic rights and we must stop them.”

The Labour MP @BellRibeiroAddy on the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

The #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest is now on the move.

I mean, I thought crack was bad. Imagine taking a hit of pure capitalism... #KillTheBill #policecrackdownbill.

Many thousands of #killthebill #policecrackdownbill protesters marching down Park Lane. This isn’t even the front of the demo.

For anyone wondering what’s going on (where have you been?) I have a story on the @guardian with some background on today’s #KillTheBill #PolicingBill protests. theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/a…

#killthebill protesters now making their way down Constitution Hill, past the queen’s back garden, towards Buckingham Palace.

#killthebill protesters marching past the palace and Green Park.

#killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protesters are now gathered in Parliament Square.

“It’s really important that the public continues to vocalise and speak out against this bill, and continue to demonstrate exactly why this bill should be opposed.”

Labour MP @ApsanaBegumMP at the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest in Parliament Sq.

“The right to protest is a fundamental human right, and all the rights we now enjoy were won through protest.”

@PeterTatchell at the #KillTheBill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

“They didn’t expect us to be together did they? In fact they tried to separate us, didn’t they? Listen, all day climate justice matters.”

@AllBlackLivesUK and @XRebellionUK share a stage as they join forces for the #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

“I don’t know how a country that colonised 22% of the world can say that they are the model country for racial equality.”

Aima from @AllBlackLivesUK at the #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

“I want to live in a world of peace and justice, I want to live in a world of human rights and democracy, and I’m prepared to make people feel uncomfortable in the process.”

@jeremycorbyn speaks at the #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest.

After the protest, the party (the party is a protest). #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill

The police have noticed ... #PoliceCrackdownBill #killthebill

Police are now protecting a McDonalds lorry for some reason. One protester has been arrested. #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill

Fight breaks out as cops move in to free the McDonalds van from #killthebill protesters blocking the road.

Police have drawn their batons and fought with protesters at the #killthebill protest.

Plenty of cops getting ready to police the #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protest now. Officers citing COVID regs and obstruction of highway

Not sure why, but the police have effectively forced what remains of the #KillTheBill protest to March up Whitehall to Trafalgar Sq

Police charging in and making arrests now at #killthebill

Police make a snatch on #KillTheBill

Police have now trapped a large group of #killthebill #PoliceCrackdownBill protesters by Aldwych.

Police apparently arresting legal observers at what remains of the #KillTheBill protest in Aldwych. @libertyhq check it out.

I’ve been sent this footage of police kneeling on or near the neck of a #KillTheBill protester while making an arrest in Parliament Square.

A slightly clearer angle of this incident, sent to me by someone else, that appears to show a police officer with his knee on the neck of a #KillTheBill protester in Parliament Square.

A last view of the #killthebill protesters kettled at Aldwych. I expect they will all be fined under COVID or arrested.

The Met has sent me this statement

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