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United States Bristol protest: Hundreds in stand-off as riot cops form up outside police station
Hundreds of protesters are in a stand-off with police in Bristol as the city holds its third demonstration against a controversial protest bill in a week.
Large crowds gathered on College Green this afternoon to rally against the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, before setting off on a march.
As the dark drew in and rain began to fall, hundreds sat down in the street near Bridewell police station, where a police van was torched on Sunday.
Several rows of police were standing between the demonstrators and the police station near the centre of the city, while two men could be seen stood on top of a telephone box.
Officers have now formed a 'ring of steel' around the city centre's Bridewell Police Station, which was besieged by rioters during the first protest.
Many of the protesters are holding daffodils as they chant "we're peaceful - what are you?" at the police.
As of 9pm the protesters remain in place opposite a line of police, who have been pelted with eggs, while a man has pitched a tent in the middle of the road.
The crowd also shouted 'where's your broken arm' at the thin blue line, in reference to Avon and Somerset Police admitting that no officers suffered broken bones, despite its initial claims.
Other demonstrators could be heard chanting "Who do you protect?" and "Justice for Sarah".
Some of the officers were holding small round shields, and five police vans could be seen behind approximately three rows of officers.
Police had urged people not to attend any protests because public gatherings are not currently permitted under coronavirus legislation.
Chief Superintendent Claire Armes said: "Once again, we remind everyone that we're still in a pandemic which has cost many lives and remains a significant challenge for our colleagues in the NHS.
"We have all sacrificed so much to stop the spread of this terrible disease and we're so close to a relaxation of the restrictions, when protest will again be possible.
"In Avon and Somerset we remain committed to facilitating peaceful protest when it's safe and lawful to do so, however gatherings remain a breach of Covid-19 restrictions and risk increasing the spread of coronavirus.
"We urge you not to come."
Roo Warryn, 19, from South Bristol, told the Bristol Post that she was protesting to protect the right to protest.
"Because if they take away our right to protest, then every single protest will lead in riots," she said.
"There will always be protests about, but if it is now a criminal offence to protest every protest will end in a riot, which nobody wants."
Sidney Lydon, a 20-year-old writer, said: “I’ve read the bill and the wording in it is designed to provoke.
"Then on top of that you’ve got a police force intimidating people trying to protest against it. I’m here to show solidarity against something I don’t believe is right. Something archaic, frankly.
"The similarities with the Criminal Justice Act in the 90s are staggering.”
The protests are the third to take place in Bristol in less than a week.
On Sunday protesters clashed with police officers at the end of a day of peaceful demonstrating.
Vehicles were torched, objects launched at officers and a firework thrown into the crowd in scenes of chaos.
Two police vehicles were set on fire and damage was caused to a police station, Avon and Somerset Police said.
The force announced that one officer suffered a broken arm and another suffered broken ribs, although it later clarified that no officers' bones were broken following a hospital check.
This week the police have urged people with information and images of the protests to come forward, with close to 300 people having made contact with the force by Wednesday.
Ch Supt Carolyn Belafonte said: “As we said from the outset, this will be a substantial investigation which has the potential to be one of the largest in our history.
“The fact we’re investigating 40 assaults on officers and a member of the media as the result of one incident shows the scale of wanton disorder which took place that night."
Despite a warning from police not to gather again due to coronavirus restrictions, on Tuesday several hundred people met on Bristol's College Green.
The protest camp, which was set up Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities who said proposed legislation would threaten their way of life, was taken apart by police who moved the crowds into surrounding streets.
The demos fall under the “Kill the Bill" banner and are in opposition to the Government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will see the police handed new powers to tackle demonstrations.
This includes being able to decide when rallies start and finish, and control noise levels.
The government says the measures will “strengthen police powers to tackle non-violent protests that have a significant disruptive effect on the public”.
Opponents of the bill say it will allow the Home Office to stamp out dissenting voices.
Multiple arrests were made at both Sunday and Tuesday's protests.
