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From The Socialist newspaper, 19 January 2022
Demonstrating against the Tory anti-protest bill
As Parliament continues to debate the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which aims to further restrict the right to protest, demonstrations took place on 15 January around the country.
Leeds
There were over 500 noisy, singing, mainly youthful protesters. The Tories' bill aims to prevent protests on numerous grounds, including being too "noisy". So, after the Commoners Choir had sung protest songs, a deafening one minute's sound was made by the protesters, using horns, pots and pans, etc.
The crowd then set off on an impromptu, unauthorised march around the city centre, gaining applause and support along the way. Many signed the Socialist Party petition and took our leaflets.
Kevin Pattison
Bath
The protest was organised with just a few days' notice. 150 attendees chanted: "This is what democracy looks like", and, of course, "Kill the bill". Socialist film director Ken Loach spoke.
Placard slogans included "Keep the 'demo' in democracy" and "Priti shameful". We started with a rally outside the abbey, and then a short parade loop through the main shopping precinct.
Nikki Dodds
Bristol
Speakers made it clear that they would continue to protest, whatever legal restrictions existed. The mood was one of contempt and anger at the establishment. A cascade of noise descended onto the city centre and chants of "Whose streets? Our streets!" from the over 1,000 mainly young protesters.
This was the 15th demonstration in Bristol against the Tories' anti-protest bill, and probably the largest. It's a reflection of the tradition of protest in the city.
The protest stopped at Bridewell police station to chant and direct protest against the police. The right to protest has had to be painfully extracted from the police and others in authority in Bristol - through the struggles against the poll tax, to the battles around cuts after 2008, up to these Kill the Bill protests, Black Lives Matter and the toppling of Colston's statue.
Roger Thomas
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In The Socialist 19 January 2022:
What we think
News
No trust in Tories to keep us safe
Tories hand cash to private health profiteers
Tory vaccine sacking threat set to deepen NHS staffing crisis
Employers use vaccine excuse to attack sick pay
International news
Murder of Ashling Murphy sends shocks waves across Ireland and beyond
Northern Ireland: Workers fight threatened closure of women's hostel
US: Independent Socialist Group launches new paper
Eyewitness account of workers' uprising in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Public services
Mutual aid, the welfare state and the fight for a new mass workers' party
Marxist classics
Why are things the way they are?
Rob Windsor
Rob Windsor - remembering a tireless fighter for socialism
Theatre
Workplace news
Sheffield Just Eat couriers speak about strike
S Yorks Stagecoach strike results in "huge pay win"
Scunthorpe scaffs resume indefinite strike action
Bus driver Tracey Scholes reinstated at Go North West
Royal Mail: Unofficial walkouts precede bigger battle to come on pay and workload
Newham college strike solid against bully privatisers
Somers Forge workers continue pay strike
Campaigns
NUS walkout: Organise to fight for free education on 2 March
Demonstrating against the Tory anti-protest bill
Waltham Forest: Campaign unites families facing eviction
Newham council rejects using 0.03% of reserves to fund arts
Birmingham: Cuts consultations replaced by computer game
Southampton uni ignores staff and students in exam farce
Oliver Campbell - 31 years fighting for justice
Bournemouth - angry people not represented by capitalist parties
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