Good afternoon, this is @bencsmoke, Hucks politics editor. I’m here on college green in Bristol, reporting on this evenings #killthebill protest. it comes at the end of a hectic and fraught week which have seen outbreaks of violence and multiple arrests in the city. 
you can find full coverage of what’s been happening in the city here: huckmag.com/perspectives/r…
the crowd here is already numbering in the hundreds, with people milling around and sitting in the sun. there are groups of police officers stationed around the green, some equipped with batons.
it’s only early and there’s already a stand off between a couple of police officers and some protestors allegedly because one of the placards they were carrying included the word fuck. a crowd gathers and chants “who’s streets? our streets”. it is palpably tense here.
speeches here as people raise their arms in defiance. it’s loud and raucous.
the crowd moves off from the green into the road and begins to head into the centre of the city. chants of “fuck the police” and “who’s streets, our streets”
chants of “kill the bill” as the crowd, now numbering in the thousands, takes the road halting traffic
chants of kill the bill as the crowd diverts up a side street into the st nicks market area. reports that the police prevented the crowd marching down to the police station which was the site of sunday nights violence.
the crowd makes it’s way through castle park towards bristol bridge. a soundsystem playing drum and bass let’s you know without a doubt that this is a bristol protest.
the crowd moves down baldwin street back towards the centre, the site of the now toppled colston statue which was brought down during BLM protests in the city last summer
as the crowd moves back through the centre a police helicopter hovers overhead and there are at least 5 officers on horseback following alongside.
not a huge sense of direction within the crowd, people around me speculating where it is that we’re heading. at the moment we’re going in the direction of “the bear pit” (a big roundabout in the centre)
a protestor blocks the mounted officers as people chant “get those animals off those horses”
huge line of police outside of the police station. the crowd moves into the shopping district as lines of riot police move into the road to stop the protest reaching the bear pit.
the main section of the demo has headed back down baldwin street. i’ve heard that people are staging a sit in outside the police station so heading to check it out now!
this is the scene outside the police station. just out of shot someone is hooping. it’s a very chill atmosphere (aside from the lines of riot police)
the other part of the demo is now at the clifton triangle at the top of park street. i’m legging it up as i tweet!
cheers as the crowd, numbering in the hundreds, moves down park street. chants of “who’s streets? our streets”
protestors hold daffodils aloft as a police helicopter hovers above
there’s confusion here as some try to lead us onto college green whilst others urge the crowd to go back into the centre (for at least a third time). there are disparate groups roaming around the city at this point. it’s nothing if not a rudderless ship.
chants of “no justice no peace”, “kill the bill” and “the police killed sarah”
this section of the march looks to be heading back towards the police station where another group are still in situ.
chants of “peaceful protest” as the crowd cuts down a side street and then on, back into the centre
the crowd is loud and energetic as they head back towards the vicinity of the police station which has been blocked off by riot vans and lines of police.
the crowd reaches the police station, waits a second and then a portion turns and marches up towards the bear pit
the excursion was only momentary as someone shouts “they’ll kettle you” and the crowd marches sheepishly back to the police station.
sorry to report it is now tipping it down. a splinter group has once again headed up to try and take the bear pit whilst the remaining crowd stays outside the police station.
crowd chants “peaceful protest”. it’s increasingly difficult to tweet due to the rain so expect slightly delayed tweets however being told police are preparing to move in and disperse. it’s a very dystopian scene.
a group of around two hundred have moved up to the bear pit. chants of “kill the bill”
appreciate this is somewhat to be expected as it’s a roundabout but we are literally marching around in a big circle. chants of “priti, priti, priti fucking fascist”
as the group on the bear pit stand and block traffic i’m heading back down to the police station where i’m told officers have just put their helmets on and appear to be readying themselves to move into the crowd
striking scenes here at the police station as the crowd sits in front of lines of riot police chanting “peaceful protest”
loud boos as another line of riot police arrive. the crowd have now sat back down and are chanting “peaceful protest” once more.
someone’s arrived with a soundsystem blasting out “get up, stand up” as everyone continues, ironically, sitting down.
very surreal energy here as the rain begins to fall once again- some people dancing, others sitting, others chanting, all watched over by lines of riot police
there’s now something of a rave going on at the back of the crowd whilst others continue facing down the police
the crowd sits once more and shout “peaceful protest”. some raise peace signs in the air. there are hundreds of people here. rumours keep swirling about the police imminently moving in but it’s yet to materialise. the helicopter remains hovering above.
a protestor moves through the crowd with a black bag collecting rubbish as chants continue
a line of riot police with large shields move to the front of the line. the crowd sits down and faces them down.
there’s a tense stand-off at the front of the demo as calls for calm in the crowd. someone chants “where’s your broken arm?” in reference to the claims the police made about injuries sustained to officers on sunday they then retracted.
a protestor set up a tent in the middle of the crowd to loud cheers as the standoff continues
the standoff continues pretty much as before. the police seem to be inching forward at a snails pace as the crowd dances around soundsystem as or sit down. it’s pretty much a stalemate at this point.
there’s panic rippling through the crowd as people shout “they’re kettling us, more vans are coming”, the crowd has thinned to just a few hundred now.
it’s erupted here as the riot police charge forward into the crowd
tense scenes here as protestors shout “shame on you”
chaos as they charge again, an injured protestor is pulled from the crowd limping and screaming in agony
it’s brutal here. seen protestors hit over the head with batons and shields. they’ve just brought the police dogs out as dozens of officers descend.
people running round screaming for medics, angry chants of “who’s streets? our streets”, bottles being thrown
people shout peaceful protest and put their hands up whilst police use shields to batter protestors. it’s carnage.
protestors throw traffic cones at the police and shout scum as the lines continue to advance. the sound of glass breaking and people screaming fills the air. the crowd scatters as lines approach from multiple directions. people lying on the ground really hurt.
the aggression on the street is unrelenting
a protestor with a bandage round his head and wrapped in a silver blanket has just been bludgeoned by a police man. others are carried out of the crowd. intermittent shouts of “medic” as the crowd is pushed back towards the shopping district
they’ve just charged the crowd with horses and continue to batter people. just seen someone shoved several feet backwards as they had their arms raised. it’s indiscriminate and horrendous. people are walking around dazed and shocked at the level of violence.
a medic point has been set up by protestors outside metro bank in broadmead and round every corner you turn is another line of riot police.
this footage, showing a protestor with their hands up being thrown to the ground by a riot officer really encapsulates much of what’s gone on in the last hour or two.
https://twitter.com/g__ferris/status/1375587726377029635
sorry for the radio silence on this thread. wanted to make sure i got home safely before wrapping up. most protestors have now dispersed but for a small group facing off with dozens of police officers at the bear pit. the city is deserted but for police and vans everywhere.
i'd normally do a round up of the day but i'm still a bit overwhelmed by everything that happened so i'll let the thread speak for itself. solidarity with all out fighting for our fundamental right to protest tonight and i hope everyone manages to get home safely ✊🏼
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