Tens of thousands took to the streets around the country over the Easter weekend to protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. rs21 members who attended the protests report in pictures.
In recent weeks, Kill the Bill demonstrations have taken place across Britain, hosted by a wide range of organisations united in opposition to the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021. The bill is designed to further criminalise dissent, as well as adding provisions to the statute book which will be used to embolden police in their racist violence towards Black people and GRT communities. All social movements and workers’ struggles stand to lose key freedoms if the right to effective protest is taken away. As protests have escalated around the country, the policing strategy has been aggressive in many cities. Flashpoint moments in Bristol and at Clapham Common have suggested that police are under increasingly authoritarian orders. With the proposed bill, the police stand to gain huge powers with very little oversight. Unless we crush this bill now, we’re likely to see a further ramping up of aggressive police tactics in times to come.
In defiance of police intimidation, thousands have turned out on the streets up and down the country to defend the right to protest. #KillTheBill!
London on Saturday – Photo: Steve Eason
Police charged into the crowd to divide it in two in Parliament Square on Saturday. Photo: Steve Eason
Police charging at a group of protestors pinned up against a building in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.
Police protecting Churchill statue on Saturday. Photo: Steve Eason
Police protecting a McDonald’s lorry in London on Saturday
#KilltheBill in Bristol on Saturday
Mums & Nanas at the Kill the Bill protest in Bristol
Oxford’s Kill the Bill protest marched outside the Crown Court and police station on Saturday.
Speeches at the beginning of the Oxford protest on Saturday.
Kill the Bill and Sisters Uncut protest in Manchester 27/03/21.
Police kettled a small group of mostly teenagers for several hours into the night in central London on Saturday.
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