Repression of Tesco Protest

bristol | policing | announcement Monday May 30, 2011 13:06 by Anon

 Over the past week, attempts at completely peaceful protest (some would say to the extent of being ineffective), have been met by repression by both the police and Tesco security. Last week, two women sat outside with a small banner and knitting. Within minutes, an unmarked police car (and later a riot van) turned up, took their details (for 'obstructing the highway'), and moved them on. On Saturday, three students handing out flyers were met with about three cars-full of police (one each, I guess?), though this time they were disappointed to realise there was nothing they could do. One student was upset at this, as he was hoping for a wrongful arrest to help pay back his student loan ;-). On Sunday two people, with a cardboard sign and flyers, had been outside for no more than a quarter of an hour before security came out, and tore up the sign (claiming it was 'on their property'?!?). Police took a while to get there this time, but when they arrived, rather than taking seriously any complaint about the behaviour of the staff (no surprises there!), arrested one of the activists for 'common assault' (as yet no charge, but not allowed near the store for now).

 In solidarity with the arrested activist, some people are expected to be protesting outside the store again today, at 3pm.